Audrey Thompson Gough

Born in Portland, she was the daughter of Francis P. and Suzanne T. Freeman. She grew up in Stroudwater and graduated from Deering High School in Portland. She went on to Smith College in Northampton, MA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

In 1948 she met the love of her life, Joseph (Joe) Gough on a blind date arranged by her best friend from high school. Audrey and Joe were married in 1949 and moved to Montpelier, VT. A year later, they returned to Portland when Joe joined the law firm of his father-in-law at Freeman & Freeman.

Audrey was actively involved in her community, and served on numerous boards, including the Portland YWCA, the Greater Portland United Way, the Girl Scouts of America, the Portland Museum of Art (where she served as a docent), Stroudwater Village Association, State Street Church, the Junior League of Greater Portland, and the Waynflete School Board of Trustees.

In 1975, shortly after her husband passed away, she was hired part-time as the first Coordinator of Volunteers for the Portland Public School system. Under her leadership, the opportunities for the school volunteers, assisting both students and teachers, expanded dramatically. Her successful work led to the development of the first full-time position in this role. She subsequently went on to serve as the Director of Volunteers at the Maine Medical Center from 1979 until her retirement in 1990.

She was a loving mother, and delighted in being part of a large extended family. Her greatest joys were in spending time with her children, particularly when it involved travel to favorite places in Maine, or wherever a passport would take them. Among her favorite places to visit were Bermuda, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Russia. Holidays were a special time as it meant getting together with her siblings and their families at one of their homes for extended meals, story-telling, and laughter.

Audrey loved her family home in Stroudwater, which had been built in Buxton in the early 1800’s and moved to its present location shortly after that time. She developed a deep appreciation for her historic neighborhood, and was supportive of other preservation projects in the City of Portland.

Audrey is survived by her son Rev. Dr. J. Thomas (Tom) Gough and his wife Kathleen (Kitty) Nesbitt of San Jose, California; her daughter Miriam (Mimi) Gough and her husband Timothy (Tim) Reardon of Portland; and her step granddaughter. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews including, Suzanne F. Atwood and her husband Robert (Rusty) Atwood of Gorham, John Freeman and his wife Johnna Haskell of Carrabassett Valley, and Elizabeth F. (Betsy) Doyon and her husband Dennis Doyon of Bethel and Gregory Sweetser (Debby Freeman) of Cumberland Center, Nathan Dow of Boston, Massachusetts and Jenny Little Dow of Nobleboro, and their families.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother Eben Freeman and sister-in-law Barbara Freeman and her sister Nancy (Freeman) Dow and brother-in-law Maynard W. Dow, nephew Tadd Dow and niece, Debby Freeman.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at State Street Church with a reception to follow. The Reverend Jeannette Good will officiate. Family and friends are welcome to attend and celebrate Audrey’s life.

The family would like to thank the staff at Falmouth By The Sea and Beacon Hospice for their loving and gracious care of Audrey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to State Street Church 159 State Street, Portland Maine 04101 or The Alzheimer’s Association of Maine.

Arrangements are being made by Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home.