Dorothy E. Cayford

Cornville early Wednesday morning on August 18, 2021. Dorothy (Dotty) was born on August 11, 1924

in Skowhegan, Maine. She was the only daughter of Blaine Emerson and Minnie Reed Emerson and

the younger sister of Robert (Bobby) Blaine Emerson.

Dorothy spent her childhood in Central Maine and graduated from Skowhegan High School in

1942. She married Everett Maurice Cayford (of Cornville) in Denver during World War II. In 1947,

they moved to Hilton Hill in Cornville where they settled down, ran the farm and fruit orchard and

raised their three children, Alan, Mary and Susan. When Dorothy thought the children were old

enough, she decided to go back to work outside the home and was hired as a secretary at the Somerset

County Selective Service and, in 1968, at the Skowhegan Town Office. After years of working with

Town Clerk and Treasurer, Rosemary Skanes, as her deputy, Dorothy was elected as the Skowhegan

Town Clerk and Treasurer, a post she held until her retirement in the mid-1980s.

Dorothy had many interests. Over the years, Dorothy and Everett enjoyed traveling in their

camper in Maine, New Hampshire and Nova Scotia. They made a good team when it came to buying

and renovating houses, including their old farmhouse, their apartment house, a cape in Embden and two

camps on Lake Wesserunsett. The family will remember her as an accomplished seamstress, renowned

baker, and the hostess of holiday celebrations and birthday parties. She was known for rescuing

abandoned and neglected cats and dogs, one pet at a time. Her devoted, tabby cat, Sebastien (aka

Puddy), brought her comforting companionship during the pandemic and up until her passing.

She was predeceased by her husband, Everett Maurice Cayford, in 2000, her brother, Robert

Blaine Emerson, in 2001, her son, Alan Everett Cayford and his wife Joan Hartsgrove, in 1967, and her

brother, “Little Albert” Emerson, in 1921. She was also predeceased by her niece, Caroline Cayford

Smith, in 2007. She felt the loss of nearly all of her cousins and all of her sisters-in-law, brothers-inlaw, and friends and neighbors of her generation.

Dorothy leaves behind her daughter, Mary Cayford, of Cornville and her partner, Wallace

Seavey, of Canaan and her sons, Matthew Bowman and his wife, Jennifer (and their children

Maximilian and Zoe) and Michael Bowman (and his son Dominic.) She also leaves behind her

daughter, Susan Davis, and her husband, John, Jr. (Jack) of Skowhegan and their four adult children,

John Cormier and his wife, Renee, Kimberly Sweet and her husband, Daniel (and their sons, Zachary

and Seth), Alexandria (Alexie) Deschambault and her husband, Keith (and their daughter Natalie), and

Jason Davis and his wife, Heather (and their three children, Benjamin and Liberty Davis and Cortlynn

Lapointe and her husband, Bryan, and their children Jonathan and Vivienne.) She is also survived by

nieces and nephews (and their families), including Diane Hall, Katherine Holt and her partner, James

Clark, Raymond Cayford and John Cayford and his wife Rebecca.

We extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Edmund Ervin of MaineGeneral Medical in Waterville for

his understanding, kindness and expert medical care for over thirty years until her final days. We also

appreciate the caring support of MaineGeneral Hospice and Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County

who helped us keep our mother at home and as comfortable as possible during her last week.

To respect Dorothy's wishes, there will be no funeral service. On Saturday, August 21, the Smart

and Edwards Funeral Home held a family visitation in their chapel and a graveside service at the South

Side Cemetery in Skowhegan, with the Reverend Mark Tanner officiating.

To honor Dorothy's life, we suggest making a donation to your local animal shelter or practicing

random acts of kindness by helping those less fortunate.