Elsie Coffey

Hermon -Elsie C. Coffey passed away February 8, 2016 at a Bangor Hospital. She was born on October 23, 1934 in Liverpool, England, the daughter of Ethel and Christopher Thwaite. Elsie was educated in Liverpool schools and moved to the United States in 1955. Her working career spanned over 59 years in the Bangor area and in 1968 she went to work for the Bangor Housing Authority at the time the City of Bangor was negotiating the acquisition of the former military housing for use by lower income families. She retired in June 2011 after serving 25 years as Executive Director. During that time one of her main concerns was the well-being and future of the young children in the area and she was instrumental in the Housing Authority's building of a learning center for pre-school children. She also brought Community Policing, a Health Center and Y-Works program to the area. Elsie served on the Board of Directors of Penquis Community Health Care, was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church serving on the Altar Guild and as an usher. She is survived by two sons, Mitch Bowman and his wife Lisa, of South Portland and David Bowman and his wife Gail, of Hermon. Four grandchildren, Brianna, Christopher, Evan and Aimee who were the love of her life. Also very special to her were the Johnson family children, Pamela, Lynn, Laurel and Wayne. A memorial gathering to celebrate Elsie's life will be held from 5pm -7pm, Saturday February 13, 2016 at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith 163 Center St., Bangor. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to EMMC Support Services C/O EMHS Foundation P.O. Box 931 Bangor, Maine 04402-0931. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com