Charlotte Douglass Cote

Falmouth - Mrs. Charlotte Cote, 89, of Falmouth, died April 5, 2010 in Naples, Florida. She retained her sharp wit, humor and love of family and friends until her death.

She was born November 26, 1920, in Portland, the daughter of Roscoe H. and Minnie Whittemore Douglass. She had an incredibly joyous childhood, growing up on Baker Street in Yarmouth. She graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1939 and from Gorham Normal School in 1942 with a teacher’s certificate. Passionate about education and life-long learning, she went back to college after raising her children and completed her B.S. degree in 1965 from Gorham State Teachers College. She proudly received her M.S. in Education at the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham in 1973, the very same day her daughter received an M.S. and her son received a B.S., both in education.

Mrs. Cote began her teaching career in 1942 in Yarmouth for the third and fourth grades and substitute taught while raising her children. She went back to teaching full-time after her children were grown and taught for over 20 years, the last 18 of which were in the fourth grade at Plummer-Motz School in Falmouth. When she began teaching, her contract stated that entering into marriage would be cause to terminate her employment; however, when she did marry, the determined young feminist canvassed area schools to find a superintendent willing to take a chance on a married teacher!

Charlotte married Robert Benjamin Cote, 90, of Falmouth, on July 17th, 1943, in a military ceremony at Fort Williams Chapel in Cape Elizabeth. They lived for a brief time in Yarmouth before Mr. Cote joined the Navy and was deployed to the South Pacific during WWII. A true American patriot, Charlotte served as a recognition observer for the Army Air Forces in Portland while her husband served his country. After his safe return four years later, the couple built a home overlooking Mussel Cove in Falmouth where they raised their children and lived for the past 63 years. A mother to all, Charlotte opened her home and heart to many children over the years, including ones from New Zealand, Denmark, California and Alaska. Some stayed for the summer, others for over a year, but her door was always open and a departure date was never requested.

Famous for her incredible cooking, Charlotte was an avid baker; her pies, beans and pot roast were sought after worldwide! Adventurous in spirit, she greatly enjoyed traveling with her family, both across the United States and abroad. Through her travels, she developed close friendships all over the world, especially in New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark. She enjoyed gardening, American history, swimming in her pool and at the South Portland Recreation Center, relaxing in the sun, boating, caring for her dogs, attending Lifeline classes at USM and doing crewel work. She also remained active in the USM Alumni Association. Charlotte greatly enjoyed researching her family lineage and became a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants on November 2nd, 2002.

Devoted to her family above all else, Charlotte retired from teaching in 1982 to care full-time for her two granddaughters. She spent much of her retirement attending every event in which her granddaughters participated; she could often be seen in the stands at soccer games, running through fields at cross-country meets and beaming in the audience at concerts and graduations.

A proud member of the Greatest Generation, Charlotte is survived by Robert B. Cote, her husband of 67 years, her son Ronald Cote and his wife Linda of Falmouth, and her daughter Pamela Potter and her husband David of Falmouth. She also leaves her two granddaughters, Cassandra Cote Grantham and husband Andrew of Portland, and Chelsea Michelle Cote of Falmouth.

There will be a private service held on April 17th with internment immediately following. Arrangements are under the direction of Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Charlotte’s life and sign her tributes book. Condolences may also be sent to Charlotte’s family at 21 Old Mill Road in Falmouth.

In lieu of flowers and to celebrate Charlotte’s love of learning, donations in her memory can be made to:

Falmouth Memorial Library

5 Lunt Road

Falmouth, ME 04105