Elizabeth Wagner

Elizabeth (Liz) Wagner, 84, passed on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at The Mooring at the Downs, Scarborough, ME, from Alzheimer’s complications.

Liz was a talented artist, a loving spouse, and a pure spirit. Her many relationships were easy, because she carried no baggage into them. She was joyful and positive, always.

Liz is survived by Robert Richard Wagner, her beloved husband of more than five decades. Their devotion to one another was unparalleled. Their love took them to Austin, Texas; Madison, Wisconsin; West Nottingham, New Hampshire; and finally to Portland, ME, in 1976. Their homes on Ashmont Street and Caleb Street, particularly the gardens, were havens for family and friends.

Liz applied her artistic talent and people skills to graphic arts and art direction, first at a national ad agency, then at local real estate companies, and then finally at her own small studio. Liz’s logos and colors could be seen across Portland, but particularly in the charitable and arts communities. Liz’s rock in business was her faithful business manager, Maggie Addelson.

Liz cherished her role as step-mom to James Gray Wagner, Charlestown, MA, and his spouse, Dee Dee A. Chen. Liz (Nana) was beloved grandparent of Wilhelmina Ryden Wagner, Aomori, Japan; Thomas Gray Wagner, Jamaica Plain, MA; and George Stephen Wagner, Charlestown, MA. Liz loved daughter-in-law Mary Scott Miller, Boston, MA.

Liz is survived by her two sisters, Mary (Mims) Placke, District of Columbia, and Anne Reed, Dover, NH. Liz leaves many beloved nephews and nieces: Caroline Placke, Elizabeth Placke, Stephen Placke, William Reed, Mark Reed, Ruth Wells Griffin, Ellen Wells Matias, Margery Wells Piercy, Nancy Wells Montenaro, Carl A. Wagner, and Susan Wagner.

Liz joins in rest her parents Thomas Shea and Mary Anderson Shea, who raised Liz in Florence, MA, and her beloved brother-in-law Charles A. Wagner and nephew Stephen R. Wagner.

Liz made friends easily and kept them forever. She leaves behind Barbara Wagner, David Gray, Susan Gray, Stephen Snow, Patricia Snow Douthat, Becky Snow, John Snow, Jr., Rachel Snow, Peter Dana, Beth Dosier, Gloria Hink, Patricia Foley, Elissa Armstrong, Deborah Luhrs, Mark Robinson, Sarah Honeth, Rachel Honeth Kim, Jeremy Honeth, Grace Dingee, Adrienne Tybjerg, Janette Dingee, and Alla Wagner. Although Liz played no favorites, Naomi and James Honeth, Portland, have been Liz and Robert’s closest friends for forty years.

On behalf of Liz, her family would like to thank her many wonderful caregivers at Park Danforth, Stroudwater Lodge, Compass Senior Home Care, Helping Hands, The Mooring at the Downs, and Compassus Hospice, as well as Gloria Hink who has been a helpmeet to Liz for four decades.

Friends and family are invited to attend her Memorial Service on Friday July 17, 2026 at 10 AM at Woodford Congregational Church, 202 Woodford Street, Portland, ME. Please direct any outward remembrance of Liz to Project FEED, Woodford Congregational Church, where Liz volunteered for many years.

Please direct any outward remembrance of Liz to Project FEED, Woodford Congregational Church, where Liz volunteered for many years.