Helen Springer Yerxa

SCARBOROUGH – Helen Springer Yerxa, 89, died peacefully on April 6, 2021, with her children by her side. She was born in Danforth on Christmas Eve 1931, the daughter of Kenneth K. and Violet B. Springer. She grew up in Bangor and graduated from Bangor High School in 1949.

Helen married Gerald A. Yerxa in 1950 and eventually settled in Madison when Gerald was hired as a teacher at Madison High School. They purchased a 180-acre farm on Thurston Hill and raised their family there. The Bangor “city girl” liked to tell about the first night on the farm when they turned out the lights to go to bed, it was so dark she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. There were no streetlights in sight – just a sky full of stars. She did her best and adapted to country life, contributing significantly to two family businesses, Ray’s Dairy and Yerxa Ridge Homes. She helped with the accounting and payroll, and even made milk deliveries with her preschool son riding along in the truck, known as the “jitney”. Later she worked for Clough’s Insurance Company and Madison Electric Works and was a member of the Madison Women’s Club. After years of hard work and putting four children through college, Helen and Jerry enjoyed retirement, traveling to Hilton Head each winter for over ten years to enjoy golf and the warm weather.

Helen is survived by her four children, Dawn Krasnavage and husband John of Madison, Peter Yerxa and wife Carol of Scarborough, “the twins” Linda Scott and husband Ron of Saco, and Laurie Doherty of Manchester, N.H.; seven grandchildren, John G. Krasnavage, Hannah and Colby Yerxa, Eliza and AJ Scott, and Kyle and Kailee Doherty; two brothers, Ronald Springer of Rotterdam, N.Y. and Lawrence Springer of Bangor; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, her parents and three siblings, Vaughn “Buzzie” Springer, Ralph Springer and Donna Russell.

Helen’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Piper Shores Holbrook Health Center in Scarborough for the compassionate care she received during these last several months. Also appreciated during this difficult time are the members of Helen’s Compassus Team of Care. Thank you all for being with our mother on her journey “somewhere over the rainbow.”

At Helen’s request, a private family burial will take place later this spring at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.

Arrangements entrusted to Hobbs Funeral Home, Scarborough. Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

For those who wish to do so, contributions may be made in Helen’s name to the American Cancer Society,

PO Box 350,

Westbrook ME 04092; the American Heart Association,

U.S. Route 1, Suite M,

Scarborough, ME 04074;

or a charity of your choice.


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