BIRCHINGTON, U.K. – Alysce Marie Hager Young Oliver, 81, Birchington, U.K., passed away March 10, 2022, at Pilgrims Hospice, Margate, U.K., after a brief illness. She is deeply missed.

Born July 16, 1940, in Rugby, North Dakota to Alexander and Barbara (Gaffrey) Hager, she attended a small country grade school, then graduated in 1958 from St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck. Alysce went to Minot State Teacher’s College before graduating in 1962 from Auburn University in Alabama. After taking courses at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, she attained a master’s degree from N.C. State University in 1965.

Alysce married Duane E. Young in 1960. They lived seven years in Durham, N.C., spending summers in Maine, first at Acadia National Park, and later at their camp on Fahi Pond in North Anson. Alysce worked at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor in the early 1960s. In 1969, they moved with their three children to a farm in Fairfield.

In 1983, Alysce went to East Machias for five years. On a trip to Nova Scotia she met Graham B. Oliver from the United Kingdom. They married in 1988 and moved to Wembley, England. In 1998 they settled in Birchington.

Alysce enjoyed working with children and had a long teaching career. She taught at Lawrence High in Fairfield, as a substitute at MSAD #54, mainly at Norridgewock Elementary, and at Rose M. Gaffney Elementary in Machias. In Birchington she tutored students for over 10 years.

Alysce was devoted to her family. She liked natural history, sociology, anthropology, was an avid gardener and enjoyed knitting, reading, music, socializing and travel. She toured America, the United Kingdom and Europe and visited Canada, Mexico and Tunisia.

Alysce was fond of animals, especially cats. During the 1970s she and Duane operated Amadear cattery, breeding Abyssinian cats and showing them in the northeastern United States and Canada. They produced several grand champions.

She is survived by her husband Graham, her sister Bregetta Jorde, Towner, N.D.; brother Joseph Hager, Yuma, Ariz.; her children Dawnalysce Clifford, Fairfield; Duane E. Young II, Eugene, Ore.; Bryce J. Young, Wiscasset; three granddaughters, two great-granddaughters, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Alysce was predeceased by her parents, sisters Sr. Mary Anella, Theresa Slyter, Anna Hager, Dorothy Zentner, Lucy Hager, Cecelia Smith and brothers Gabriel (infant,) Emanuel Hager, and Francis Hager.

Her funeral service will be held at Thanet Crematorium, Margate, UK on April 11. Alysce’s remains will be interred at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church cemetery, Towner, N.D., in September 2022. A memorial Facebook page will be maintained for visitors.



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