PRESQUE ISLE – Mavis Farnham Carter passed away April 2, 2011, at a Presque Isle health care facility after a brief illness. She celebrated her 96th birthday in December. Mavis was born Dec. 10, 1914, in Fort Fairfield, to Henry Charles Farnham and Annie Jane Palmer.
Mavis’ mother was a longtime schoolteacher and one of the first women to graduate from Teachers College, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Her father was a well-known homebuilder and cabinetmaker. After Ray convinced Mavis that she didn’t need to attend Nasson Institute for that last year of college, they married Oct. 26, 1937, at the Farnham home in Fort Fairfield. Ray and Mavis started their first year together in an apartment on Barton Street, Presque Isle. They then moved to Washburn, to prepare Ray’s old family home for sale. Mavis spent the rest of her life living in Washburn. She had three children. Gail was born in Presque Isle. Jim arrived three years later and was born at home in Washburn, as it was the war years. Then three years later, Mary came along. Mavis lived on Main Street, Washburn, and throughout the years built up many lasting friendships with her neighbors. She lived a great life, helping out Ray with his farming operation. Many enjoyed her Saturday night baked beans accompanied by homemade oatmeal rolls and delicious pies. She always supported Ray in his endeavors, helping with writing “The Informal History of Washburn” and the organization of Salmon Brook Historical Society. Throughout the years she loved to travel. In 1957 the whole family took a six-week cross-country road trip to the West Coast and back. In August she and Ray always visited the camp at Little Munsungan Lake, usually with Clifford and Wilda McIntire. In later years she and Ray made several trips in the U.S. and Canada, often traveling with their old friends, Jim and Margaret Porter of Perth Andover, New Brunswick, and Charlie and Marion Stone of Fort Fairfield. Ray and Mavis also took three extended trips to the British Isles and Europe. She always took pride in her English heritage. This interest was manifested in her genealogy research leading to membership in both the Mayflower Society and the United Empire Loyalist of Canada. Mavis will be remembered as a great cook, a clean freak and a gal who liked to garden. After Ray’s passing she looked forward to daily get-togethers with her longtime neighbors, Arline, Barb and Louise. Later in life she moved into Leisure Village, Presque Isle.
She is survived by all three children: daughter, Gail Carter and her children: son, Mark Harvey and his wife, Linda, and grandchildren, Anna Eve and Ethan Ray, of Evanston, Ill., and daughter, Sarah and her husband, Keith Bobrowieki, of Freeport; son, James Carter of Washburn and his daughters, Alexandra and Marc Weeks of Jacksonville, Fla., and Dr. Hannah Carter of Gainesville, Fla.; and daughter, Mary Kaler of Boothbay and her sons, Sam and his wife, Jane Kaler, and grandson, Silas, of Boothbay Harbor, and Ben Kaler and his wife, Stephanie, and grandson, Jack, of Spotsylvania, Va., and Jake Kaler of Boothbay Harbor. Mavis was predeceased by Ray, Aug. 28, 1988; and son-in-law, Dan Kaler, July 31, 2010. The family expresses their gratitude to those who cared for Mavis during the past two years. Very special thanks is extended to the management and staff at Leisure Village, as well as to her doctor, Dr. David Jones.
A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. May 31 at Crouseville Cemetery with Dot Matson officiating. After the service a reception will be held at Lidstone Memorial Church, Washburn. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may contribute to Salmon Brook Historical Society, P.O. Box 71, Washburn, ME 04786. Online condolences may be expressed at
www.duncan-graves.com.