Carolyn Pierce

OAKLAND – Carolyn Pierce, 92, passed away on Nov. 28, 2023, at Northern Light Continuing Care Lakewood in Waterville.

Carolyn was born in Hartland, Maine on May 31, 1931, the daughter of Albert L. and Elizabeth (Burbank) Smith. The family lived in Waterville and Winslow, eventually moving to the Rice Rips Road in Oakland, across the street from her future husband.

Carolyn graduated from Williams High School in Oakland in 1949. She married Richard Pierce of Oakland on Christmas Eve 1950 at the Pleasant Street Methodist Church in Waterville. After brief stays in Dover Foxcroft and Monmouth, they moved to Rice Rips Road in Oakland, where she and Dick lived for over 60 years. Cal, as Dick called her, had three children – Richard, Laurie, and Daniel.

Carolyn was very active in local clubs and organizations. She was a member of the Young Mothers Club, the Kennebec Mothers Club, and the Oakland Tuesday Club. She was involved with the Oakland Republican Party, often “working the polls” as a ballot clerk.

In the summers, Carolyn worked across the street at her in-laws’ Mayflower Hill Farm, where she was known as the fastest strawberry picker on the farm. Many of the strawberries went into her delicious strawberry jam.

During the late 1970s and through the 1980s, after the kids had grown, Carolyn went to work full-time. She started as supervisor for the Hilltop Center on College Avenue in Waterville. Later, she was the Director of Ken-A-Set’s Work Activity Center in Waterville and the College Avenue Thrift Store. In 1977, she was an organizer for the Maine Special Olympics held at Colby College.

Carolyn was extremely talented at sewing and crafts. She made many costumes over the years, both for the kids at Halloween, and for their school and community shows. She knit a personalized Christmas stocking for every grandchild and great-grandchild.

Carolyn was predeceased by Dick, her husband of 68 years; her parents, Bunny and Betty Smith; her brother, Albert Smith, Jr.; her sister, Regina Smith; her brother-in law, Russ MacPhee; and her son-in-law, Paul Thomas.

She is survived by her children, Richard Pierce and wife Sherry of Oakland, Laurie Thomas of Oakland, and Daniel Pierce and wife Roxanne of Scarborough; her six grandchildren, Derek Stevens and wife Tonya of Las Vegas, Jennie Charleston and husband Russell of Vassalboro, Nathan Pierce and wife Jody of Hallowell, Benjamin Pierce and wife Julia of Camden, Sarah Pierce Bureau and husband Edmond of Falmouth, and Daniel Pierce and wife Maria of Benton. Carolyn had 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Colleen MacPhee of Waterville and Margaret Cilley of Turner.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Sheila and the staff at Lakewood for all the care and support they gave Carolyn and the family.

There will be no services.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Carolyn’s memory may be made to the Oakland Flower Committee

c/o Oakland Town Office

P.O. Box 187

6 Cascade Mill Road

Oakland, Maine