Shirley Porter

Shirley Marie (Piper) Porter, 91, died peacefully, October 28, 2013 at Dirigo Pines, Orono. She was born December 19, 1921, in Belfast, the daughter of Seavey A. and Erma L. (Keech) Piper. Shirley grew up on a farm in Frog Hollow, Troy where her father was a town officer for years and conducted farming business. She was fond of animals and took delight in the benefits of living on the farm with pet cats, dogs, and her ram, “Billy.” Shirley attended Eastern Maine Normal School in Castine and upon graduation taught kindergarten in Wayne for a year. She enlisted as a WAVE in the U.S. Navy, October 7, 1943 where she served as Storekeeper Third Class, and her duties included posting, filing and general office work in budget control office. She was awarded the American Theater and Victory Medals. After her service to the country Shirley attended and graduated from Syracuse University in 1948. She held clerical and secretarial positions in the following places Minneapolis, Minnesota, New York City, and Miami, Florida. Shirley returned to Maine to take care of her ailing parents in their elder years and found work as a secretary to the vice-president of the University of Maine for a decade. In 1985, she married Wayne S. Porter, a school mate at Eastern Maine Normal School. They took up residence in Brewer. Wayne and Shirley resided at Dirigo Pines in Orono for the past 5 years. She was active in the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Bangor for years, serving the community in the genealogical library as one of her various service positions. Shirley was a wonderful friend, aunt, step-mother, sister, wife and faithful servant to all who knew her. She will be missed for her gentle nature and positive outlook. Shirley had a strong faith and a loving family which included, nephew Neil Piper and wife Connie of Gorham and their daughters Heather and Allison; niece Gail Piper of Troy and her step-children, Geoffry and Dawn Mitchell; niece Vicki and husband Tim Smith and their son Christopher and wife Regina, all of Troy; step-daughter, Terry and partner Loretta “Sam” Porter-Fahey of Douglas, MA; step-son, Kevin Porter and wife Janice, of Pepperell, MA and their children Matthew, Darah, Scott, and Elise; and cousin, Barbara Piper. In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by a brother, Clinton Piper and sister-in-law, Polly, and cousin, Erwin Piper. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, November 2, 2013, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 639 Grandview Ave., Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, following the service. Interment will be in the Rogers Cemetery, Troy, following the reception. Those who wish to remember Shirley in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 639 Grandview Ave., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.