Penelope Hall Tompkins

Penelope (Hall) Merrill Tompkins, of Freeport and Brunswick, Maine, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the age of 89, surrounded by family. Penelope was born July 22, 1936 to James R. Hall and Ellen (Varney) Hall Lamour. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Farmington State Teachers College in 1958. Along with her late husband, Halton Merrill, she raised her family in Freeport, Maine. They also started and managed The Innkeeper Restaurant for several years. Penelope also spent many years happily married to the late Richard Tompkins of Fairfield, Maine, with whom she enjoyed traveling across the United States. Penelope’s life was marked by a steadfast commitment to her family and her community. She worked as a home economics teacher at Jack Junior High School in Portland, ME, and during her tenure there she was awarded First Place at the 1972 Blue Ribbon Food Fair for America’s High School Home Economics Teachers for her famous Innkeeper’s Pie, held in Chicago. Penelope also worked at L.L. Bean, where she developed and taught the company’s inaugural training program for customer service in the Telephone Order department. Penelope was an extraordinarily talented seamstress and baker, sharing her creativity generously with those she loved. She made numerous wedding dresses by hand, including her own, those of two of her sisters, and her daughters—each one crafted with care, precision, and pride. She also created many wedding cakes for family celebrations, adding her personal touch to life’s most meaningful occasions. Her talents extended beyond special events; she lovingly made handmade dolls for her children and grandchildren, gifts that will be treasured for generations. Through these creations, Penelope expressed not only her skill, but her deep devotion to her family. Penelope’s unwavering love for her family knew no bounds. Whether she was teaching her children to bake and sew, or quietly sharing her deep faith with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Penelope maintained a poised and classy demeanor, carrying herself with grace and quiet strength. She will be remembered most for her kindness, honesty, and deep love. She will be sorely missed. Penelope is predeceased by her sisters, Judith Tindall and Marilyn Goodwin. She is survived by Kimberly Libby and her husband John, Nola Van Horr, all of Pownal, Maine, Rachel Lawrence and her husband James of Warwick, Rhode Island, as well as her siblings William Hall (wife Lenore) of Derry, New Hampshire and Jennifer Downs of Brunswick, Maine. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Katherine Sansom (late husband Tres), Alexander Libby (husband Nicholas Ibarguen), Matthew Libby (wife Kathryn), Janna Glynn (husband Michael), Ryan Lawrence, Meaghan Maczko (husband Timothy), Brendan Lawrence, and Aidan Lawrence, and four great grandchildren, Benjamin and Abigail Sansom, and Maeve and Owen Glynn.

Visiting hours will be held from 3-5 pm on Sunday, March 29, 2026, and from 10-11 am on Monday, March 30, at Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Ln, Yarmouth, where a Funeral Service will follow at 11 am.

Spring interment will be held at Burr Cemetery in Freeport.

Please visit lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign Penelope's online guest book.