Lois O. (Bailey) Church

GARDINER – Lois O. (Bailey) Church died peacefully on Jan. 21, 2023, in Augusta surrounded by her family.

Born Feb. 15, 1927, in South Gardiner, the third of four daughters of Roy and Charlotte (Mac Arthur) Bailey.

She attended schools in South Gardiner and graduated from Gardiner High School in 1944, and the University of Maine Orono in 1948, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She attended the Hickox Secretarial School in Boston, Mass. the next year and became employed by Smith-Moreland Engineering Company a year later. Lois met the love of her life, Jim Church, while he was attending the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, Mass. After his graduation, they returned to Gardiner and were married in May of 1952.

Lois was a strong believer in her religious faith and was an active and devoted member of the Gardiner Highland Avenue United Methodist Church for over 60 years.

She was a dedicated election poll worker in Gardiner for many years.

She loved the experience of traveling the world with Jim. After his passing in 1989, she continued those travels with her adult children and grandchildren.

An avid reader and marvelous cook, her other passions were playing bridge and Scrabble, gardening, and knitting, but most cherished was the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Lois was predeceased by her husband; her parents; her sisters Barbara Waters and Miriam “Mim” Walton; and her special childhood friends Helen Webster and Joyce Baker.

She is survived by her sister, Joan Cutting of Sandpoint, Idaho; her children Janice Bridgeo (Bill), Mary Ellen Dennis (Matt), Robert Church (Elizabeth) and Jeffrey Church (Kim); grandchildren Ben Church, Emily Stowers, Laura Church, Will Bridgeo, Claire Bridgeo, Nina Dennis, Jimmy Church, Andrew Church; great- grandchildren Anika Church, Leena Church, Charlotte Church, and Drew Church, Alex Stowers, and Isaac Stowers; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their gratitude for the care and compassion received from the staff of the MVH and the Beacon hospice nurses and staff who attended to her in her final days.

A private family celebration of Lois’s life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, we ask that family and friends donate in Lois’s name to:

Gardiner Public Library

152 Water St.

Gardiner, ME 04345

OR

Highland Ave. United Methodist Church

31 Highland Ave.

Gardiner, ME 04345

Lois O. (Bailey) Church