Mary G. Porter

Mary G. Miles Porter passed away peacefully on May 10, 2022 comforted by her son and daughter. Mary was born on March 19, 1928 to Winifred (Gatcomb) and Archie Miles of Hancock Point.

She grew up on Hancock Point, attended Lee Academy with her older sister Louise, and graduated from Bangor High School in 1946. Mary was an engaging blithe spirt with a musical laugh. She kept a diary, wrote poetry, and dearly loved to read. Her husband Alfred L. Porter whom she married in 1950 always remarked that Mary could readily be found “with her nose in a book”. Mary was a lover of beauty and chose to see the world as a wonderful place. She spread that love widely, enthusiastically helping many women achieve their best fashion selves over her forty-three year career at Rines Co. She was initially sad when Rines closed their downtown store, but cheerfully followed the company to their new mall location. Nevertheless, when Mary retired in 1991, she was so widely known and so well regarded that the Bangor Daily News covered her retirement with a half page spread in the Style Section bearing the headline, “Rines Co.’s Downtown Mary Retires!”

In 1985, Mary’s children surprised them with a trip to Cancun Mexico for their 35th Wedding Anniversary. This started a whole new travel chapter in their lives. Mexico was interesting, but they dreamt of visiting Hawaii. The following year they vacationed for a week in Oahu Hawaii where they fell deeply in love with the people and culture of our 50th state. They loved it so much they returned again determined to find a way to spend their retirement winters there. During this trip they met Marlene and Sam Pi, Hawaiian natives and made arrangements to rent an apartment in Waianae. They spent eleven wonderful winters there becoming very close to the Pi family. Following their Hawaii adventures, they spent ten winters in Lakeland Florida in order to be more easily accessible to their children in Maine.

Mary’s last life chapter was spent at Westgate Center following Al’s death in 2018. There, once again determined to see the beauty in life, she extended her family to include the wonderful people who worked there. Despite her declining health, she was always “feeling great!” On her last evening on earth, no less than a dozen staff came in to tell her they loved her. Some even came in from home. Truly her love of life was shared by those she touched.

Mary was predeceased by her beloved husband Alfred Lee Porter, her parents Winifred and Archie, her sister Louise, niece Althea, and stepfathers, Arnold Jackson, and Bud Rich. She is survived by her son Glen L. Porter, his wife Jean M. Deighan; daughter Cindy L. Madden, her husband Anthony W. Madden. Grandchildren Derek (Nicole) Madden, Cassandra (Josh) Fournier, Katherine Porter, and Alexander (Keya) Porter. Grandchildren Ford and River Madden; Aria and Brooks Fournier; and Vaila and Lachlan Porter. Special nieces Mary Lou Rogers, Ruth Ann Wert, Ruby Houston, Barbara Houston, Helen Clough, and nephew Raymond Houston. Mary’s family wishes to acknowledge and thank the capable and loving staff at Westgate in Bangor who helped make Mary’s small world ever wider and brighter during her last years.

There will be a graveside service at 11AM Saturday June 18, 2022 at the Milford Cemetery followed by a celebration of her life reception at the Milford Town Hall.