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Shirley Raymond Blanchard
Date of Death: April 18, 2010
Date of Birth: May 11, 1923
Biography:
LEWISTON - Shirley Raymond Blanchard, 86, of Robinson Gardens, Lewiston,
died on Sunday Morning, April 18 at Montello Manor following a brief illness.
She was born in Portland, Maine, May 11, 1923, the daughter of Horace L. and Melvina
E. (Williams) Raymond.
She was educated in Portland schools and graduated from Deering
High School in 1941. She graduated from Bates College in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in English.
On June 30, 1945 she was married to Richard L. Blanchard, Bates ’42, in the Bates
College Chapel. They made their home in Lewiston until 1956 when they moved to Gorham,
NH for four years, then returned to Maine to live in Dixfield for 13 years, and back to Lewiston
in 1973.
During her working years she held secretarial positions at Bates Mills Office,
Superintendent of Schools office, a brokerage office and retired in May, 1988 from Eighth
District Court as an assistant clerk.
She was an active community member while living in Dixfield, where she was a
president of MFWC Advance Club and was a president of the Social Club, the Women’s
Auxiliary of the Congregational Church. She was a member of the American Association of
University Women, Rumford branch. After moving back to Lewiston she became a member of
the Women’s Legislative Council of Maine and served as president from 2001 – 2003. She was
a member of the Maine Association of Retirees, Bates College Alumni Association, Maine
Genealogy Association and a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church.
She enjoyed music and reading and her special craft of rug hooking as hobbies.
She is survived by a son and daughter in law, Gary J. and Sheryl S. Blanchard of
Okemos, Michigan, and her two treasured grandchildren, Dana L. and Evan T. Blanchard, also of
Okemos, Michigan.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 63 years, Richard, who died September
3rd, 2008.
The family wishes to express its gratitude for the excellent care provided by the staff at
Montello Manor and Central Maine Medical Center during her brief illness.
NOTICE
BLANCHARD Shirley R., 86, of Lewiston, died on Sunday morning, April 18th, at Montello Manor. Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, April 21st,f rom 10 AM until 11 AM with a funeral service to follow at 11 AM at Funeral Alternatives. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Lewiston. The Rev. Richard Cullen will officiate. Condolences may be expressed online at FuneralAlternatives.net Arrangements by Funeral Alternatives Group, Lewiston.