Barbara Coffin Fogg

FREEPORT – Barbara Coffin Fogg, 82, a woman who loved life, family and friends died peacefully at her Wolfe Neck home on May 3, 2010. She was caring, spirited and young at heart.

On March 2, 1928, she was born in Freeport, daughter of David Mallett and Elizabeth Moller Coffin. She grew up on Flying Point and Wolfe Neck, graduating from Freeport High School in 1946 as co-salutatorian. Her commencement speech was on “The Coming Air Age and One World”, speaking of when a plane would travel from New York to California in a single day.

On June 4, 1948, she married Edwin Harris Fogg, at her family home on Wolfe Neck. Barbara and Eddie began their life together by building a house on Old County Road in Freeport, living there and raising their 5 daughters until they built their retirement home back on Wolfe Neck in 1976 (adjacent to her family home where she was raised and married). Barbara often spoke with pride how 5 generations had lived in the house her grandfather purchased in 1890.

After graduating from high school, she worked at L.L. Bean in various offices. She often remarked of her low employee number that she held, #104, and recalled many stories of L.L. Bean during their years of growth. After taking time off when her daughters were small, she worked at Freeport High School as the secretary to the principal in the 1960’s, before returning to L.L. Bean in 1965, until her retirement in 1985.

Barbara’s desire to stay current with technology continued into her retirement. She didn’t want the new computer age to go on without her, so she purchased a computer for her home and learned how to use it.

Family life was so important to Barbara that she found ways to bring her family together almost every weekend thru parties, cookouts, camping and boating. In later years, Barbara and Eddie did much traveling in their motor home. She was proud to have visited 48 of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) through various modes of transportation. They also enjoyed cruises to the Western Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska Passageway and vacations in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Barbara enjoyed sharing her experiences and world of knowledge with family and friends.

Her spirit and determination were demonstrated when she learned to downhill ski in her 50’s and continued into her 60’s in order to enjoy the sport and the outdoors with her active family. The family enjoyed many years of an annual visit to The Balsams in Dixville Notch, NH.

At home, Barbara could often be found working in her gardens. She had such joy in dividing and sharing her plants and bulbs to friends and neighbors. Another favorite past time for Barbara was that of sewing, knitting and crochet. She was accomplished in all these crafts. She was proud of her unique German style of knitting, taught to her by her mother. Her family members were the recipients of her loving gifts be they quilts, prom and wedding dresses, hand knit sweaters and personalized Christmas stockings. Barbara’s determination was shown the year she made 10 Quilts in 10 months – all gifts for her daughters and grandchildren. She wrote a book of her life, Memories and More, which was published and distributed.

Barbara was a member of the First Parish Congregational Church where she taught Sunday school classes, worked on the monthly bean suppers and fairs and was a Deacon in the church. She was a member of the Couples Club at the church for over 50 years. She was active in her community with the Wolfe Neck Club and Woman’s Club for many years. She enjoyed playing cards with her girlfriends and family even with failing eyesight from Retinitis Pigmentosa.

She enjoyed family pets and was very close to her cat, “Kitty”, who watched over her carefully during her illness this past year.

Surviving are her beloved husband of 61 years, Edwin, her daughters: Brenda and husband John Skillin of Freeport; Gayle and husband Bruce Gordon of Tierra Verde, Florida; Gloria DeGrandpre and companion Jack Doughty of Freeport; Robyn and husband John Peskovitz of Freeport; her grandchildren: John Skillin, Jr. and wife Rachael; Sonya and husband Troy Voutour; Allison Lumsden; Katharine DeGrandpre; Karen DeGrandpre; as well as her great grandchildren: Griffin Day; Amelia Skillin and Caroline Voutour who will all miss her dearly.

She also leaves her sisters Edith Mitchell of Freeport and Evelyn Holme of St. Clair Shores, Michigan and their families; as well as sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a daughter, Rebecca Fogg Stilkey in 2008, son-in-law David Stilkey in 2009 and son-in-law David DeGrandpre in 1991.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 8 at 10 a.m. at the First Parish Congregational Church, 40 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032. Interment will be Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Grove Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Road, Freeport. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to leave online tributes.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Parish Congregational Church.