SOUTH PORTLAND and BREWER – Eleanor (Dyer) Black, 94, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at Barron Medical Center, Portland. She was born May 25, 1917, in Brewer, the youngest of four daughters for Samuel and Florence (Lowell) Dyer.
She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Maurice “Bud” G. Black Jr.; her sisters, Ruth Moore, Lilian Tenney and Margaurite Dyer; and one son, Maynard C. Black. Eleanor is survived by two daughters, Brenda Hilden of North Waterboro and Tzeana Gross of Cape Elizabeth; one son, Maurice W. Black of South Portland; two granddaughters, Sarah Black and Erin Gross; four grandsons, Baron Grant, Allen Vose III, Ryan Gross and Lance Black; and two great-grandchildren, Katie Grant and Rachel Turnbull. The Black family thanks the kind staff of the hospice care unit at Barron Center for their kindness and dedication while they cared for Eleanor.
Her passion was roller-skating, which she performed throughout the northeast, from the Rainbow Room, Bar Harbor, to venues in Connecticut and Canada. Through skating she met her husband Maurice Jr. and the two performed semi-professionally for several years, even during her pregnancy with her youngest daughter, Brenda. They traveled many summers all over the U.S. and Canada. Eleanor and Bud traveled extensively as part of Retreads and Seacoast motorcycle clubs, for which they won numerous trophies for many years and many miles of travel. Eleanor worked for Redbank School as a lunch aide for many years, while living in Redbank for 36 years.
Visiting hours will be held 5 p.m. until the time of memorial service 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. Interment will be held at a later date at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Bud, and son, Maynard.