SKOWHEGAN - Our sweet Pollyanna slipped away on the snowy morning of November 16th, encircled by the love of her family, and leaving behind a legacy of kindness, friendship, generosity, and laughter.
Carol Lorraine (Taylor) Withee, affectionately known as “Mum”, “Meeme”, and “Aunt Carol”, was born in Belfast on October 16, 1930. The daughter of Frederick and Vera (Hasty) Taylor, she viewed the world through deep rose-colored glasses, finding silver linings and hidden blessings in each and every moment.
Fiercely devoted to her family, community, and church, she will be remembered for the mischievous twinkle in her eye, “must-go” dinners served from Country Crock containers, her unbelievable gift of gab, and her endless, unconditional hugs. She was a one-woman correspondence committee who loved music and never told a story in 20 words that could be told better in 200 (or 2000).
Habitually early to any gathering, she dispensed cookies and crackers to her grandchildren in pairs because “you need one for each hand” and always wanted a “sliver” of each pie available for dessert. Gifts were opened with meticulous precision and wrapping paper was preserved for decades. As a hostess, she would detail the entire contents of her cupboard, pantry, or fridge just in case something she offered tickled your fancy.
After growing up in Moscow, she graduated from Bingham High School in 1949 and Skowhegan Commercial School in 1952. She met the love of her life, Robert Withee, in a dark (bowling) alley in 1953 and they were married in Skowhegan nine months later. Together they raised their two daughters on Fairview Avenue and spent quality time at their camp in Sunshine Valley on Flagstaff Lake. For years, she coordinated volunteers for the CUMC diner at the Skowhegan State Fair, volunteered with numerous civic organizations (Women’s Aid Society, Redington Home, RFGH Auxiliary, Faith Sharing, Community Chorus), and fondly cherished her relationships with the farmers she worked with while employed at the USDA.
Predeceased by her parents, stepfather Russell Adams, and brother Elwood Taylor, she is survived by her husband Bob; daughters, Jan “Jannie” Downing and husband Dennis, and Karen Lewia and partner Kirk Karkos, all of Skowhegan; five grandchildren, Alissa Downing Gervais and husband Ted of Corinth; Nathan Downing and partner Danielle Lavertu of Carrabassett Valley; Ian Downing and wife Shannon Brown of Boston, MA; Sam Lewia and wife Allison of Milford, MA; and Jacob Lewia of Skowhegan; two great-grandsons, Jasper Benjamin Downing and Colby Elwin Gervais; a nephew, Mark Taylor, his wife April and their family; special cousins and their families: Dawn Elizabeth Bersani, Luciann “Midge” Merrill-Pomerlow, Madeline Taylor, and Doug Bird; the “Over the Hill Gang”; her Siamese cat, Su-Ling; and countless other family and friends from all over the world.
In lieu of flowers, sit down for a game of Mille Bornes or Rack-O; write a letter or telephone an old friend; smile at a stranger; and share a few hugs with those around you. Live your day a bit brighter so maybe together, we’ll put back into the world what she gave us. For being sad and gray when the world has already lost potentially its brightest light, is to do her legacy an immense disservice.
Oh, by the way...
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, December 2nd at 1pm at Centenary United Methodist Church (Dr. Mann Road, Skowhegan). Visiting Hours will from 3-6pm on Saturday, December 1st at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home (183 Madison Avenue, Skowhegan).
Memorial donations can be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church, 113 Dr. Mann Rd., Skowhegan, Maine 04976 or to the Somerset Humane Society, PO Box 453, Skowhegan, Maine 04976
