Verna L. Pike

FARMINGTON – Verna L. Pike, 88, of Farmington, Maine, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Thursday, November 21, 2024. She was born on April 7, 1936, the sixth child of Erlon Henry and Clarissa (Plaisted) Bryant, at their home on High Street in Jay, Maine. She was predeceased by her parents, her three brothers (Henry, Richard and Max) and her three sisters (Louise, Agnes and Doris). She was also pre-deceased by her first husband, John Geikie. She is survived by her devoted husband of sixty years, David C. Pike; her two sons, Darryl Pike of East Wilton, Maine and Joel (and wife Kathleen) Pike of Jay, Maine; her daughter, Darleen Pike of Dover, New Hampshire; and her five grandchildren, Rachel Pike of North Carolina, Hallie (and husband Aaron) Emerson of Maryland, Chandler, Cecilia and Samuel Pike of Jay, Maine.

Having grown up during World War II in rural Maine, she was a lifetime advocate of reuse and recycle. At age twelve she found she had what became a lifelong talent and affinity for the piano. Her piano teacher was Elizabeth Pomeroy of Livermore Falls, Maine. At age thirteen, she became the church pianist for Jay Baptist Church. She was a Jay High School graduate, the valedictorian of the class of 1953. She obtained a BME (Bachelor of Music Education) degree in 1957 from Boston University. It was at Boston University that she met John Geikie, who was studying piano performance. They were married in July 1959 at Jay Baptist Church. John died tragically after two years of marriage on August 12, 1961, in a car accident in Massachusetts as they were heading up to Maine to take care of Verna’s brother Max while her parents were in California visiting two of their daughters. At the time of John’s death, Verna was teaching general music at Westwood Junior High School in Westwood, Massachusetts. After recovering from car accident injuries, Verna took a leave of absence to stay with her sister Louise in Anaheim, California. Upon returning to Massachusetts, she resumed teaching at Westwood Junior High.

A former classmate from Jay High School, Shirley Pike, was relocating to Massachusetts for a job in the National Security Administration. Shirley asked Verna for suggestions for where to live and became her housemate. Through these circumstances Shirley re-introduced Verna to Shirley’s younger brother, David Pike, who was also working in Massachusetts. Verna and David were married on January 18, 1964, at Faith Baptist Church in Stoughton, Massachusetts. After the birth of their three children, the family relocated to Farmington, Maine, to take over Farm To You Roadside Market, to raise strawberries and other fruits and vegetables. After relocating to Maine, Verna became a member of and the church pianist for Beans Corner Baptist Church in Jay, Maine, continuing in that ministry for approximately 50 years.

Verna was fulfilled by being a piano teacher for many decades, and her students included her three children, many of her children’s friends and other young people from the area. She was a Red Sox supporter since her teenage years, because of her older brother Richard’s influence. She was a big supporter of her children’s and grandchildren’s various activities, attending countless concerts, plays, Marching Band Shows and other school events.

Her life’s verse is Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

The family expresses their gratitude to Beacon Hospice Care, and especially to Lori and Nichole, for their care and help that enabled Verna’s desire to live her final months in the comfort of home. Also, to David’s sister Maggie Houlihan for her support for both Verna and David, after David became Verna’s primary caregiver. Messages of condolence may be sent to: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com

Visiting hours will be held Monday, November 25, 2024, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Finley Funeral Home, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. A service celebrating Verna’s life will be held at 11am on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Beans Corner Baptist Church, 23 Chesterville Road, Jay, Maine. Interment will be at Jay Hill Cemetery, Jay, Maine.

If desired contributions may be made in memory to Verna Pike to: Beans Corner Baptist Church, 23 Chesterville Road, Jay, Maine 04239 or to Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 (which took such good care of her grandchildren over the years).