DOBBINS, Mary E., 79, Houlton, July 7, 2016. Services were celebrated at 1 p.m., Sat., July 9 at the Dunn Funeral Home. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
HOULTON — Mary Elizabeth (Gray) Dobbins 79, passed away Thursday, July 7, 2016 at a local hospital. She was born February 4, 1937 in Houlton, the daughter of Merril and Gertrude (Sewell) Gray.
Mary was the daughter of a potato farmer here in the county. Mary grew up with a thirst of knowledge, a keen sense of humor and a great sense of style. She was a dedicated Red Sox and New England Patriots fan and rarely missed watching a game. Besides raising nine children and welcoming all their friends at their home on Pleasant Street, in later years Mary worked for almost 15 years for the US Border Patrol as a dispatcher where she made many friends.
Mary also studied for and attained her real estate license and for many years, was an active participant in Houlton’s Republican organization. Mary was a great cook often preparing recipes from around the world and once after having won the moose hunting permit lottery, she tagged a huge moose. Mary’s love of life and humor, found her also loving to travel to many foreign countries such as Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France, England, Ireland, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Jamaica; and stateside to New Jersey, California, Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, as well as Lake Tahoe, Orlando, the Florida Keys and her favorite: Las Vegas. That love of laughter also found Mary and her children often seeking out memories, hamming it up while singing Karaoke together.
Mary’s kindness and generosity was exemplified in so many ways. In later years, she was a doting grandmother who never missed a birthday, a grandchild’s local sporting event, and other family celebrations. After the death of her fiancé Tom Bowen, last summer, Mary became a resident of the Madigan House in September. The staff were kind and caring as she adjusted to life there. Once again, Mary became a social butterfly and caregiver to new friends she met at the residence.
Mary is survived by her nine children Donna Greulich and her husband Richard of Exeter, NH, Mark Dobbins and his wife Olga of Levant, Dody Gammelgard and her husband Doug of El Dorado Hills, CA, Diana Anderson of Augusta, Jacqueline Rouse and her husband Dean of Paradise, CA, Marcia Contrado and her husband Ron of Newbury, MA, Maureen Peak of Houlton, Julie Delano and her partner Randy Chaloux, Sr. of New Limerick, Robin Dobbins of Augusta; sixteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren; her siblings Phyllis Hubert of Littleton and Joanne Murphy of Rockland; father of her children Jack Dobbins; many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins; her dear friend Lilia Miller. She was predeceased by her fiancé and beloved partner of almost twenty years Tom Bowen, her parents, her stepmother Grace Sewell Gray, her siblings Shirley Holmes, Audrey Preisendorf, Carl Gray, Joyce Cummings and her granddaughter Brooke Anderson.
Friends called at the Dunn Funeral Home Friday, July 8, 2016 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated 1 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 with Rev. David Raymond celebrant. Interment was in the St. Mary’s Cemetery 1 p.m. Monday, July 11, 2016. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Mary’s memory payable to the Maine Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, 04730. Online condolences and guest book: dunnfuneral.com.
