WINDHAM – Caroline B. Clarke passed away surrounded by her family on Feb. 22, 2022. Caroline, “Liney” as some of her friends and family called her in her younger days, was born to Durward, and Leona Hale (Bickford) in 1934. She was then raised and adored by her grandmother, Carrie Moore, who spoiled her rotten creating the frisky woman we knew. Growing up in the Morrells Corner area of Portland where she met and fell in love with her first husband William C. Curtis “Billy” of 50 years. A wild, handsome man in his day.

Caroline had eight children with Billy. In their early years they would have friends over for cookouts and card games in the summers and enjoyed the winters with some snowmobiling. As the years went on and the children got older, and the family grew, time was spent with them going camping in Eustis in the summers. Christmas times they would start their journeys early in the morning visiting every one of their daughters’ houses spreading the Christmas cheer and getting those Christmas lottery tickets Caroline loved so much.

Caroline was able to find love again after Billy died, with Niles Clarke “Clarkey”. They got to spend 11 wonderful years together before his passing. They enjoyed snowmobiling and even a little hard work together with prepping firewood for winter. Caroline was as strong as she was strong willed still stacking and moving firewood into her mid-70s while Clarkey would cut and split.

Caroline never wavered on her love for her children. Standing up for her family no matter what the cost, or who the person was. The strength that Caroline has is unmatched by any woman I have ever known. She will be extremely missed by all that have been lucky enough to have known her, called her Mom, or Grammy, or friend.

Due to the size of her family and her being a carrier of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, she and her daughters and grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in a research study for DMD that will hopefully one day help treat and cure children with this deadly disease that she lost her two sons, and three grandsons to.

Preceded by her first husband, William C. Curtis (2001), second husband, Niles Clarke (2015); sons Charles W. Curtis (1972), and William B. Curtis (1980), daughters Catherine A. Thims (1999), Joan (James) C. Swanson (2010), Linda A. Gilcott (2014), Constance Curtis (2019), and Carol L. Curtis (2019); and grandchildren Donald Thims, Steven Swanson, DJ Gilcott, William Thomas, and Luke Labrecque; and great-grandson, Zakery Kullman.

Leaving behind daughter, Barbra Keene (Matt Keene), son-in-law, Albert Cote; grandchildren Winona Thomas (Alexa Thomas), Pamala Thims, Crystal Gilcott, Jason Curtis, Mo Santamore, Michelle Francoeur, Debbie Kullman (Richard Kullman), Erica Thims, Stanley Lawrence, Carrie McNicol (Bryce McNicol); 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Arrangements entrusted to Hobbs Funeral Home, South Portland. Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

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