HOULTON – Gladys (Haley) Spooner died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at a local hospital after a short illness. She was born in November 1932, in Presque Isle, to James Robert Haley and Mary (White) Haley.
She was one of five children including, Eleanor Becker of Paxton, Mass., who predeceased her, Ruth Nickerson of Live Oaks, Fla., Dorothy Fitzpatrick of Houlton and James Earl Haley of Hodgdon. They were raised on a family farm located on the Calais Road, Houlton, and she graduated from Houlton High School in 1950. She was an avid reader and loved books – frequenting Cary Library, Houlton, and the libraries in Mars Hill, Patten and Presque Isle, as well as bookshops throughout Aroostook County, New Brunswick and beyond. She enjoyed playing the piano, cooking her renowned doughnuts, date squares and molasses cookies, and raising her family. She was a storyteller and frequently entertained her sons and their friends with original stories she devised. She and her husband of 58 years, Vernon “Rusty” were married in November 1950, and together they raised three sons. The family lived in Orient for many years, where she served as town treasurer before moving to Houlton in 1968. She was a faithful member of Southern Aroostook Church of Christ, Houlton, and attended Sunday services and weekly Bible classes.
She was predeceased by Vernon. Gladys is survived by sons, Michael V. Spooner and his wife, Elvira, of Phoenix, Patrick R. Spooner and his wife, Maureen, of Windham, N.H., and Dennis J. Spooner and his wife, Brenda, of Hodgdon; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, numerous nephews and nieces.
Burial will be at Peters Cove Cemetery, Orient. A memorial service will be scheduled for late spring 2012. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Cary Library or Southern Aroostook Church of Christ, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.