Elaine Joyce (Bickford) Collier

OAKLAND – Elaine Joyce (Bickford) Collier was born in Oakland on May 4, 1938 to Bessie and Earl Bickford, one of five children. She came into this world the same spitfire she would leave it.

She worked her way through the Williams school system and married the love of her life, Buddy Collier in 1957. Together they shared big dreams. They shared five children together. Growing their family, they spent time travelling the west.

Montana proved to be an intriguing place with promises of mill work and missile silos, but two days before their final return trip in the early ’70s, President Nixon signed a peace treaty eliminating those job opportunities. To think that one stroke of the pen would be what finally determined Maine was where they would keep their family. In 64 years together, what started as two, would turn into 61, nearly a person for every year together. Five children, 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Not to mention the countless people she took in as her own.

She spent many happy years working for the Registry of Deeds in Augusta. She also found great joy later in life working by her daughter’s side at Grower Merchandise Services. She loved to shop whenever she could and was always drawn to the ocean. But in the grand scheme of things, her true passion was always found in her family. Her favorite holiday was Halloween because it gave her the opportunity to scare all her growing grandchildren and follow it with a chuckle. Simply the best seems the most accurate description for her. A rock. A sounding board for all your troubles. The storm. Pure heart and an everlasting fire for life. She is the reason we are all here. Her fire transcended through the generations and molded us into the beautiful, strong, passionate people we all are today. She was the force that drove the ship, the glue that bound us all together, the one we all strived to be. She was and will always be our guide through every hill and valley this life throws at us.

Every moment she spent here was enjoyed fully with not a second wasted. She ran, she danced, she laughed, cried and sang. She saw the world from cruise ships and gambled until her heart was full. She loved everyone, so strong, with everything she had. There will never be a replacement or a fix for this hole in all our lives that she will leave behind. She would not want us to cry for her, a resounding “I don’t need nothin’.” would have been the directions given. She lived, she loved, and as a family we are all better people for the priceless gifts she has bestowed upon us. She is finally at peace, Big Gram and Gramp, dancing away in Paradise together. This is how she would want to be remembered, smiling, dancing, laughing and loving. She was our light and she will be forever missed by every single person she ever touched.

Elaine was predeceased by her husband, Buddy Collier; her mother and father, Bessie (Knox) Bickford and Earl Bickford; her brother, Neil Bickford and sister, Janice Dorval.

She is survived by brother, Earl Bickford and wife Alice, brother, Jack Bickford and wife Dorothy. She leaves behind a masterpiece of a life truly lived, a legacy in its truest form; four sons, Chad Collier and his wife Lauralei, Flint Collier and his wife Susan, Nathan Collier and his wife Terri, Cord Collier and his wife Frannie, and a daughter, Debbie Smith and her husband Terry; grandchildren Paige Collier and partner Kelsey, Joe Gagnon and wife Julie, Kahlie Desrosiers and husband Josh, Lucas Collier and wife Kristen, Jaimie Gagnon, Matthew Collier and wife Jessica, Kailyn Morlano and husband Joe, Jake Collier and partner Shelby, Alei Collier and fiance Brandon. Carson Collier, Jennifer Langella and husband Nick, Meaghan Webster and husband Chad, Nikki Cummings and husband Casey, Delaney Collier and partner Jake, Abby Collier and Cassie Smith; great-grandchildren Aiden and Emilyn, Remington and Roanoke, Gracelyn, Madelyn and Joey, Gabby, Raya and Nathan, Charli and Liam, Evelyn and Maelyn, Gunner, Aubri, Lydia, Finn and Barry, River and Clark. Elaine.

Our mother, sister, aunt, friend, Big Gram. We love you more. Love Love.

A celebration of Life will be held Saturday July 10, 3 p.m. at Gram’s home in Oakland.

Elaine Joyce (Bickford) Collier