Jayne E. Bickford

LEWISTON: Jayne Ethel Bickford of Lisbon Falls died March 12, 2016 at Marshwood Nursing Center in Lewiston. She had just celebrated her 92nd birthday on February 29 as the oldest known living member of her families of origin.Mrs. Bickford was born in Burlington, Vermont, February 29, 1924, the daughter of Edgar Clayton and Vina Lucretia (Farr) Harrington. She attended public schools in Burlington and Bradenton, Florida, graduating from Biltmore High School in 1941. She earned an AA Degree from Northeastern University, Boston, and a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Maine, September 29, 1959. She married Carl A. Bickford, who died in 1990. Mrs. Bickford retired from the Federal Government, BNAS, in 1979, having worked largely in civilian personnel administration there and at Topsham AFS for many years. Following her retirement she taught in the Lisbon School System for seven years and then did substitute teaching until 1990. She also taught at Durham Elementary School for a year between the deactivation of Topsham AFS and being re-employed at BNAS. She was a member of St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church, Lisbon Falls; the Mayflower Society; National Association of Retired Federal Employees; Maine Old Cemetery Association; Middletown Springs, VT Historical Society; Androscoggin Land Trust; Maine Historical Society; and the NEA and MTA and of the Burnt Meadow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She served as Regent, Vice Regent, Registrar, Secretary, and Chaplain of this chapter and Chairman of several committees. In October, 2015, she received a certificate for 40 years of service to the National DAR. She also served for a number of years as President of the West Bowdoin Cemetery Association and was active in the long-time Annual Bickford Reunions, which no longer meet. Mrs. Bickford was actively engaged in genealogical research for many years and compiled two published family genealogies: The Family of Willis Vernon Farr and Watkins, a Beginning Genealogy, as well as self-printed family histories, including the Rugg Family who eventually settled in Fairfax, Vermont and work on her husband Carl Bickford’s genealogy. She also compiled Early Bowdoin Maine Families, and Some of Their Descendants (2002) and co-compiled with Charlene Bartlett a book of Bowdoin Cemetery Inscriptions (1993). She and Charlene started the Bowdoin Historical Society in 1972. She was an animal lover, sharing her life with many devoted dogs throughout her life and telling their stories. Mrs. Bickford received compassionate care at Marshwood Center and was respected and appreciated for her intelligence and wit. Jayne E. Bickford’s survivors are her stepson, Bruce Bickford and his wife Rebecca; a grandniece, Ann McCauley; faithful friends including Sharron Campbell and Sheila Gallagher; and maternal cousins Jeanne Semonite, Donald A. Hemenway, Jr., Alice Moody, and Harriet H. Price. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday March 20 from 2pm-4pm at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday March 21 at 11am at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Lisbon Falls with the Rev. W. Beau Wagner officiating. Interment will take place at West Bowdoin Cemetery in the spring at a later date. Those wishing, in lieu of flowers, may make a charitable contribution in Jayne’s memory to: Coastal Humane Society, 190 Pleasant St., Brunswick, ME 04011 or the Bowdoin Historical Society, PO Box 1, Bowdoin, ME 04287. Arrangements are under the care of Crosman Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services 40 Main St. Lisbon Falls, 353-4951

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