Helen Tupper-Southard

HELEN CUMMINGS MARR TUPPER-SOUTHARD
Orrington, Bangor, Portland
Passed away on July 6, 2021 at the age of 95. She was born in Lewiston March 16, 1926. Daughter of Harry W. Marr and Ruth Cummings Marr of Portland, Maine.
She was predeceased by her first husband Calvin F. Tupper, her second husband Harris B. Southard and step-daughter Susan Fortier. Helen is survived by her brother Thomas W. Marr and sister in-law Sharon Marr of Long Island, Maine. Surviving children and their spouses are Jonathan and Ramona Tupper of Westbrook, Stephen and Geneva Tupper of Searsport, and Andrea Tupper of Windham. Grandchildren Jonathan Tupper Jr. of Westbrook, Jason Tupper and his wife Jenn of Poland, Shauna Halliday of Windham, Andrew Tupper and his wife Elizabeth of Brooklyn,NY, Kion Tupper of Orono, and Carrie Dupree of Texas, and Helen's seven great- grandchildren, Bailey, Jacob, and Madison Halliday of Windham, Thomas and Jack Tupper of Brooklyn, NY, and Charde and Jasmine Dupree of Utah and Idaho. She is also survived by stepdaughter Nancy Southard Walker and her husband Dr Dale Walker of Orono and step son-in law Robert Fortier of Brewer and their children and sister in-law Jill Tupper of Boothbay. Helen leaves several nieces, a nephew, many cousins and very dear friends.
Helen grew up on Munjoy Hill, attended Portland schools and graduated from Portland High Class of 1944 and the Massachusetts School of Physiotherapy in Laboratory Techniques. She was a member of the Falmouth Congregational Church and the East Orrington Congregational Church.
Helen devoted over 15 years to Municipal Service serving her town of Orrington as Assessor, Code Enforcement Officer where she implemented the first Shoreland Zoning in Town. She served as secretary of the Maine Building Inspectors Officials. For nine years she served as the Assessor for the City of Brewer, Past President of the Maine Assessing Officers and Past President of Maine Chapter of International Association of Assessing Officers. Helen served on the Governor's Municipal Advisory Board. In 1986 she ran for a seat in the Maine House of Representatives. Helen represented the people of distict 121 for 3 terms where she
served on the Joint Standing Committee of Legal Affairs, the sub-committee on Law Enforcement, and Government Ethics and Republican Task Force on State Government. After retiring she was appointed to the City of Bangor's Board of Assessment Review. She served on the Curran Homestead Farm as honorary director and MOCA, Maine Old Cemetery Association as legislative chairman. Locally Helen was Past President of the Orrington Garden Club and Co-Chair of Orrington's Bicentennial celebrations in 1976 and 1988.
At the age of 90 Helen was still painting and writing poetry and short stories. She loved going for rides up "on the hill" and looking out over Casco Bay and visiting Southport, Maine and remembering her childhood summers spent there. Helen's true love and devotion was to her family. She loved life and she lived it to her fullest. Even a week before her passing she was playing the drums in the residents' band where she resided and even got up and danced to "Rollout the Barrel". She ended that week by attending Sunday service at the Falmouth Congregational Church.
As a young person Helen was a Camp Fire Girl and carried the love of the outdoors throughout life and will be buried on the banks of the Penobscot River at Dean Hill Cemetery in Orrington in a private family graveside service.
The family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to Karen and David Landa and their entire staff at The Ledgeview Assisted Living Center in Cumberland Foreside for the exceptional love and care they provided to Helen, especially this past week.
Those who wish may make contributions to the Hendricks Hill Museum 419 Hendricks Hill Road in Southport, Maine 04576.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com