Thelma Proctor Matheson

WATERVILLE – Thelma Proctor Matheson, 99, a resident of Waterville, Maine, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2021, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine, with family at her side.

Born in Waterville on Jan. 3, 1922, Thelma was the daughter of Carl and Marianne (Gilbert) Proctor. She was predeceased by her brother Earl Reginald Proctor. Thelma graduated from Waterville High School in 1939 and graduated with a BA in English from Colby College in 1943. She was the first female drum majorette for the all-male Colby marching band and held this position for four years.

While at Colby she met the love of her life, Delbert Donald Matheson of Ipswich, Massachusetts. They married in 1946, designed and built their home in Waterville and raised their four children. Her children grown, Thelma returned to school to earn her Master’s degree in Library Sciences from the University of Maine, Orono. She worked as the Audio Visual Librarian in the Media Center at Waterville High School for 17 years.

Thelma was predeceased by her husband of 66 years and her daughter, Susan Matheson Lyles of The Villages, Florida. She is survived by her son, Don (JeNelle) Matheson of Fort Collins, Colorado, and China, Maine; daughters, Jane Matheson of Biddeford, Maine; Deborah (Mark) Fabian of Oak Hill, Virginia; and son-in-law Don Lyles of The Villages, Florida. She was extremely proud of her eight grandchildren; Ned (Melissa) Matheson and Peter (Lisa) Matheson of Colorado; Amanda Lyles, of Seoul, South Korea; Jo (Shane) Jones of Virginia; MollyJane (Ethan) Connor of South Carolina.; Zack, Katie, and Nick Fabian all of Virginia. She is survived by four great- grandchildren, Raina and Ryder Jones, Blake Bozin, and Colter Matheson. She also leaves behind her special friend Cindy Shiro. Thelma held nothing but beautiful memories of time spent with her family.

Thelma was a kind woman with a wonderful heart. Many of her children’s friends referred to her as “Mum”. She and Del loved to play bridge with their group of friends and Thelma enjoyed golf with the “9-holers.” She played many years of duplicate bridge; loved to read, do crosswords, and watch Jeopardy. She was a life-time member of the Waterville Women’s Club.

A memorial celebration of Thelma’s life will be held at a later date when her family can all gather. Burial will be in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville.

The family wishes to thank the team from Hospice of Southern Maine for their compassionate care and family support. In lieu of flowers, donations in Thelma’s name may be sent to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House,

11 Hunnewell Drive,

Scarborough, Maine, 04074

or to Hospice of

Southern Maine,

390 US Route One,

Scarborough, ME, 04074.

Thelma Proctor Matheson