HALLOWELL – Late in the evening on June 6, 2023, while surrounded by her loving family, Elizabeth Ann Harper, 67, left this world. She was not afraid, but believed she was being called home.

Liz was born on March 9, 1956, the first child of Alfred Brooks and Shirley Elizabeth (Cartmill) Harper in East Orange, N.J. She grew up in Portland, attended Deering High School, and graduated in 1974. Liz graduated from the University of Maine—Presque Isle, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in behavioral health in 1978. And later, she graduated with a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine in Orono in 1997. She settled in Hallowell in 1989.

Liz was a member of the Hope Baptist Church in Manchester. She had served as the superintendent for Sunday School. She attended Bible studies and supported the church and church community. She made a large group of close friends who loved her. Liz was generous toward many people, both financially, as well as opening her home for people to stay for a time. She always shared the gifts of compassion, mercy, listening and healing.

Liz also lived her Christian values by choosing a life of service to others. Throughout her career, she worked with the most vulnerable populations, including, abused and neglected children and adults in Child and Adult Protective Services and Child Adoptions, as well as with autistic children. After over 26 years Liz retired from the State of Maine Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, as the Director of Licensing for the State of Maine for Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Methadone and Employee Assistant Programs. She was involved in her local communities by serving on a Mental Health Agency board.

After retiring from the State, Liz worked as a Resident Services Coordinator. She started working at ARCH Beta in 2014 and then the Cotton Mill in 2023. She loved working with the residents to solve their problems and designing outstanding programs for them, including farm shares, classes in arts, crafts, yoga, movie nights, meals for the holidays and special occasions. During the pandemic, she would pick up food to deliver to residents in need and always kept a “give-away” table for residents outside her office.

Liz served as the president of Maine Resident Services Coordinator Association for three years and was on the New England Resident Services Coordinator (NERSC) planning committee for three years. Liz was a co-chairperson of the 2017 NERSC Conference, in Rockport, held at the Samoset that provided educational and networking opportunities to create better resident service providers.

There are hundreds of people walking around this world whose lives were made better by her actions.

Liz was a kind and accepting person to friends, family members, and all those she met. If she heard someone in her community was lonely, she would make friends with them. If needed, she bought groceries, gave a paid odd job, a meal out, or a winter coat, paid for their travel to visit family, and even a car. Liz loved animals too, and always had several cats and dogs and other various pets. Also, she was creative and artistic and made still life paintings, diamond art, jewelry, and ceramics.

Liz was predeceased by her parents, Alfred Brooks and Shirley Elizabeth (Cartmill) Harper; her grandparents; aunt, Nancy Ann (Harper) Page and her son, Robert Atwood Page, Jr.; and uncles Charles Bradley Garcelon and Allan Stephen Creighton.

Liz is survived by her sisters Wendy Sue Harper and her wife, Robin Hopps of Monkton, Vt., and Nancy Ellen Harper of Westbrook, and her daughter Emily Elizabeth Cleary and her partner Kari Dunn of Culver City, Calif.; her brothers Scott Harper of Rye, N.H.; and Christopher Robert Harper and his wife Susan and their two daughters, Grace Mary and Faith Rose, of Hallowell; as well as her aunt, Rachel Harper Garcelon of Yarmouth, her uncle, Robert Atwood Page, Sr. of Latham, N.Y.; and many cousins.

Memories of her kindness will live on in the hearts of the many people who her life touched.

A green burial took place at Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery, Fayette Corner Rd., in Fayette, and is marked with a commemorative stone under the shade of a maple tree.

A celebration of her life will take place at the Hope Baptist Church on 726 Western Ave, Manchester, on Friday, June 16 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to:

Kennebec Valley Humane Society of America; or

ARCH Beta Resident Fund

21 Gray Birch Dr.

Augusta, ME 04330

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