Cora co co & kagean Jean Gagnon Marley

Cora Marley, 62, of Skowhegan passed from this earth early in the evening on Saturday May 12, 2012 due to an automobile accident in Hinckley, Maine. She and her family found peace once she was recovered from the Kennebec River four days later.

She was born September 15, 1949 in Waterville, Maine, the daughter of Aruel and Lorraine Gagnon.

Her rather sensational death matched her life as Cora was a vivacious fun-loving person who brought joy and laughter to her family and friends. She and her husband Rick held annual Fourth of July pig roasts at their home in Skowhegan for many years. It had become an annual tradition along with their summer motorcycle treks to Laconia, New Hampshire. She also enjoyed skiing, camping and playing dominos with the women in her life on Wednesday Ladies Night.

In her youth, Cora and her twin sister Dora sometimes switched identities playing pranks on teachers and even boyfriends. Cora lived in Brockton, Massachusetts for many years where she raised her only child, Paula, before returning to Maine in 1993 followed by her daughter three years later. Cora would always correct everyone when they would say “Paula” saying that’s not her name it’s “Paula-Mae”. She always had a very close connection with her daughter Paula and she was her “baby girl” and her whole world

In addition to the time Cora spent with her daughter, brothers and sisters, she especially loved the time she spent with her grandsons Michael and Mathew Berry. She often called them “my boys” never accepting correction from others. She helped Michael with a special gold-plated baseball card collection, and collected coins with Mathew. Cora and her twin sister Dora had a tradition where each had and wore a necklace one had a heart and the other the key and each time they saw one another they would switch and now Dora and Paula are going to keep up this life long tradition with each other now.

Cora operated Spic & Span Cleaning Service for many years in the Central Maine area, with her largest account being Maine Eye Care in Waterville. She was proud of her business and affiliates but looked forward to retiring after she turned sixty-two. She was just days from filing for Social Security when she died. Her daughter Paula also has a cleaning business under the same Spic & Span name, which she had inspired Paula to follow her with in her business as well as the name. Paula has been in business for 13 years.

Cora was also well known for her decorating flair which is evident in her new home. Every window, counter, shelf and even the floors have a clever and creative look done by Cora, and of course, it was always very clean. It wasn’t unusually for family members, especially her daughter, to return home from work to find their homes cleaned and furniture moved around. Everyone knew when Cora had visited.

She is survived by her daughter Paula Berry of Skowhegan and two grandsons, Michael and Mathew and their father Michael Berry, and her ninety-year-old mother Lorraine Gagnon of Skowhegan.

Cora had three brothers, Earl and his wife Carol of Skowhegan and their children Jay, John, Janelle and grandson Sky; Richard and his wife Linda of Skowhegan and their sons Lance and Jamie Charrier and grandchildren Averi, Nicholas, and Jillian; Kenneth and his wife Deborah of Waterville and their three daughters Kelsey, Bethany and Jenna. She had an older sister Earlene Morin and her husband Ray of Skowhegan and her daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Joel Shamon of Middleton, Massachusetts and their three girls Allison, Rachel and Caroline, and Earlene’s other daughter and son-in-law Angela and Duane Marquis of Madison. Cora’s identical twin sister is Dora Gagnon of Waterville and her daughter and son-in-law are Kimberley and Scott Cornforth and their son Jacob. Her other daughter is Karena Blay and boyfriend is Adam Carter. Cora had two friends of over thirty years Cheryl Kondroski and Cathy Smith, both of Brockton, Massachusetts.

Cora was predeceased by her father Aurel Gagnon and her husband Richard Marley who passed three years ago.

The family is extremely appreciative of the professions who searched and eventually recovered Cora. They included Fairfield Police and Fire personnel, the State Police and their divers, the Maine Warden Service and their dive team and pilots, the people and dogs of Maine Search and Rescue Dogs, and the operator of the Shawmut Dam. There were also many family friends and some strangers who provided the family and crews with food and drinks, as well as comfort for the grieving. Appreciation also goes to the Sentinel reporter and photographer who were professional and sensitive in presenting the recovery story.

Viewing hours for Cora will be held at the Smart & Edwards Funeral Home at 183 Madison Avenue in Skowhegan, Maine on Friday evening, May 25 from six to eight o’clock. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday May 26, 2012 at 10 o’clock at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, 273 Water Street in Skowhegan under the direction of Father John Mazzei. Cora’s urn will be placed alongside her husband’s urn at Calvary Cemetery after the funeral, and on the same day three years after her husband Rick’s death.