BANGOR – Shirley R. Strout, 78, went home to be with her Lord, June 10, 2015, after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was born August 19, 1936, in Hudson, the daughter of Fred and Vera (Maunder) Robbins.
She graduated from Old Town High School in 1954, and attended the University of Maine. In 1956, she married the love of her life, Myron Strout, and they moved to Bangor to reside and raise their children.
Shirley worked in a variety of jobs, including the Army Corps of Engineers, and in an Air Force office during the closing of Dow Air Base in Bangor. But the fondest memories in the workplace were being part of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad family for 22 years until her retirement in 1995.
After marriage and settling in Bangor, she was a member of Columbia Street Baptist Church for 30 years, where she served on the church advisory board, the board of Christian education and worked in children’s ministries. In her later years, she was a member of Bangor Baptist Church and grew in her spiritual life under the preaching of experienced and gifted teachers. She was a member of the Bangor Gideons Auxiliary and spent many hours with her Gideon friends distributing scriptures to residents and staff of nursing homes, assisted living and retirement facilities in the Bangor area. She had been a troop greeter at Bangor International Airport, handing out Gideon service testaments to the troops.
In addition to working outside the home, her first love was for her family for whom she prayed and served throughout her life. Her tireless work as an extraordinary mother involved countless hours of cooking, sewing, helping with school projects and costumes and always offering wise words of wisdom. Her children recall with fond memory the loving relationship that their parents shared and the many happy memories and laughter surrounding holidays and other special events.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband of 55 years, “Mickey”; two sisters, Gloria Anderson and Mavis Hussey. She is survived by her loving children, son, Wayne Strout and wife, Lori Jean of Dover-Foxcroft; daughter, Lori Ann Downs and husband, Chris of Brewer; four precious grandchildren, Megan McNutt of Massachusetts; Zachary Austin of Bangor; Nicklaus Strout and Kellen Strout, both of Dover-Foxcroft. She was GiGi to her two great-grandchildren, Isabella Grace and Connor Malcom McNutt of Massachusetts, and they enjoyed many tea parties together. She also leaves her sister and dear confidant, Lorrie Hartley and husband, Russ of Westbrook; and a dear brother, Gene Robbins of Bangor, along with a loving extended family and many special friends.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call 6-8 pm Monday, June 15, 2015, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A celebration of her life will be held 11 am Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Bangor Baptist Church, 1476 Broadway, Bangor, with Pastor Jerry Mick officiating. The family invites family and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the church after the service. Interment will be held immediately after the gathering at Williams Cemetery, Bradford. It was her wish that remembrance donations be made to the Bangor Camp of Gideons International, P.O. Box 134, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.brookingssmith.com.
She graduated from Old Town High School in 1954, and attended the University of Maine. In 1956, she married the love of her life, Myron Strout, and they moved to Bangor to reside and raise their children.
Shirley worked in a variety of jobs, including the Army Corps of Engineers, and in an Air Force office during the closing of Dow Air Base in Bangor. But the fondest memories in the workplace were being part of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad family for 22 years until her retirement in 1995.
After marriage and settling in Bangor, she was a member of Columbia Street Baptist Church for 30 years, where she served on the church advisory board, the board of Christian education and worked in children’s ministries. In her later years, she was a member of Bangor Baptist Church and grew in her spiritual life under the preaching of experienced and gifted teachers. She was a member of the Bangor Gideons Auxiliary and spent many hours with her Gideon friends distributing scriptures to residents and staff of nursing homes, assisted living and retirement facilities in the Bangor area. She had been a troop greeter at Bangor International Airport, handing out Gideon service testaments to the troops.
In addition to working outside the home, her first love was for her family for whom she prayed and served throughout her life. Her tireless work as an extraordinary mother involved countless hours of cooking, sewing, helping with school projects and costumes and always offering wise words of wisdom. Her children recall with fond memory the loving relationship that their parents shared and the many happy memories and laughter surrounding holidays and other special events.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband of 55 years, “Mickey”; two sisters, Gloria Anderson and Mavis Hussey. She is survived by her loving children, son, Wayne Strout and wife, Lori Jean of Dover-Foxcroft; daughter, Lori Ann Downs and husband, Chris of Brewer; four precious grandchildren, Megan McNutt of Massachusetts; Zachary Austin of Bangor; Nicklaus Strout and Kellen Strout, both of Dover-Foxcroft. She was GiGi to her two great-grandchildren, Isabella Grace and Connor Malcom McNutt of Massachusetts, and they enjoyed many tea parties together. She also leaves her sister and dear confidant, Lorrie Hartley and husband, Russ of Westbrook; and a dear brother, Gene Robbins of Bangor, along with a loving extended family and many special friends.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call 6-8 pm Monday, June 15, 2015, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A celebration of her life will be held 11 am Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Bangor Baptist Church, 1476 Broadway, Bangor, with Pastor Jerry Mick officiating. The family invites family and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the church after the service. Interment will be held immediately after the gathering at Williams Cemetery, Bradford. It was her wish that remembrance donations be made to the Bangor Camp of Gideons International, P.O. Box 134, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.brookingssmith.com.
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