Muriel Winogene Trafford

RAYMOND – Muriel W. Trafford passed peacefully at the Barron Center in Portland Maine on September 1, 2014. Muriel was born on May 29, 1924 in Bridgeton Maine to Alton C. and Lelia E. (Looke) Brown. She moved to Portland and graduated from Deering High School in 1942. Soon after her graduation she met Raymond A. Trafford and they were married on June 1, 1943 shortly before he was deployed with the U.S Army for service in Europe during WWII. She remained happily married to Raymond for 53 years until he passed on May 5, 1996.

Muriel was a dedicated Member of Central Square Baptist Church in Portland for over 70 years. She also became an active associate member of the Raymond Village Community Church before transferring her membership in 2005 to the First Congregational Church in South Portland Maine. She cherished the close loving relationships she formed over the years with her dear friends in the church. Singing was a large part of her life. She loved the music of the Church and sang in the choir for over 35 years. She also performed as a member of the Portland Community Chorus and the South Portland Community Chorus.

In 1999 Muriel moved to Cape Elizabeth to live with,” a dear loving companion”, Harold Ahlsen. They shared a caring supportive relationship until their declining health and advancing age made it difficult for them to care for each other. She wrote, “I feel very fortunate to be here with him. We are happy. I have a feeling our former mates would not mind, knowing we are caring for each other.” Muriel’s family loved Harold dearly.

Muriel was predeceased by her husband, Raymond; her brother, Donald Brown; her sister, Joan (Brown) Malia. Survivors include her son, Timothy and his wife Harriet of Waterville, Maine; her daughter Gail Trafford of Raymond and her companion Norman “Choc” Tanguay of Gray, Maine; her sister Priscilla Oakes of Fairfield, Maine; granddaughters, Kim Dubay and her husband, Dennis of Windham and Courtney Trafford of Asheville, North Carolina; grandsons, David and his wife, Cheryl of New Gloucester and Christopher Trafford of Vassalboro. Great-grandchildren, Ashley, Megan, Mikayla, Gavin, Nicholas, and Kelly; great-great grandchildren, Janiah and Mataya; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge their sincere appreciation to the Barron Center staff for the tender loving care they provided to Muriel and her family. We will always remember your kindness.

Friends and relatives are invited to a time of visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday September 5, 2014 at Jones, Rich, and Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, Maine. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m on Saturday September 6, 2014 in the funeral home with a reception to follow. Interment will be at Raymond Hill Cemetery in Raymond, Maine. On-line condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational Church, UCC, 301 Cottage Road, South Portland, Maine 04106, or Raymond Village Community Church 27 Main St. Raymond, ME 04071. Donations may also be made to the Barron Center 1145 Bridgton Ave. Portland, ME 04102.