GARDINER — Miriam Viola Walton passed away peacefully on March 22, 2015, at Maine General Rehabilitation and Long Term Care in Augusta, Maine. She was 91 years old.
Miriam, known to family and friends as Mimi, was born on Nov. 28, 1923 in Gardiner, Maine. She was the daughter of Charlotte MacArthur Bailey and Roy Russell Bailey.
She grew up in South Gardiner and attended Gardiner High School.
Mimi lived life her way.
In her early life, she worked at BIW as a welder during WWII unbeknown to her family who thought she was at school. She worked as a waitress at Hubbards, the Johnson House, and the Mt. Washington Hotel. In her later years, she worked for the state of Maine driving clients to their jobs and appointments. She drove for the seeing impaired and her good friend, Marge Awhol, whose company and friendship she enjoyed.
Mimi loved the ocean and she enjoyed going to the coast for lobster and clams.
She traveled all over the state of Maine. She loved visiting new places and meeting new people. She made many new friends wherever she went. She visited Switzerland and Jamaica with her daughter.
Mimi was very proud of her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching them grow, their exploits, and to see them grow into successful adults.
Mimi was predeceased by her grandson, John Clifford Pye, and her older sister Barbara Waters.
She is survived by her only daughter, Sandra Pye and her husband Larry of Phippsburg, her sisters, Lois Church of Gardiner and Joan Cutting and her husband Sam of Ferrisburg, Vt. Her granddaughter Susan Pye of Portland, Maine, and her grandson Lawrence R. Pye of Phippsburg, Maine, and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank all staff members at Glenridge for the dignity, compassion, and care that Miriam was given while she resided there.
A special thanks to the Hospice staff for the care and the kindness that they showed her at the end of her life.
At Miriam’s request, there will be no funeral.
There will be a committal service and a celebration of her life later in the spring.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Special Olympics of Maine Attn: Linda, 125 John Roberts Road #5, South Portland, ME 04106, in Miriam’s name.
Arrangements are under the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
