Leslie (Lee) Gilman

WINTHROP – Leslie (Lee) Gilman, 90, of Winthrop, lost her battle with congestive heart failure, Friday, June 27, 2025. She was surrounded by family and the wonderful nursing staff at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta.

Lee was born in Winthrop, Maine on August 13, 1934, to Mary Natalie Lewis and Everett Leslie York. Lee attended Winthrop schools, graduating in 1952. She married the love of her life, Bertram Stephen Gilman, Jr., on June 27, 1953, at the Winthrop Congregationalist Church. Friday would have been their 72nd wedding anniversary.

Lee and Steve raised their two daughters, Stephanie Lee and Laura Jean, in Winthrop. Lee worked at the Norrwock Shoe Company and was for many years an Early Childhood Educator at Wonder Awhile Nursery School in Winthrop, teaching several generations of Winthrop children. She was a church member for 64+ years, a Grange member for 78 years, and a CODA member for 50 years. She was an avid square dancer with the Squire Town Squares and sewed many beautiful dancing outfits for herself and Steve. She was a girl scout leader, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Church Food Pantry. She enjoyed camping with her family on Student’s Island on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, planting and tending her garden and making jams, relishes and pickles for her family, friends, Church fairs and Fish Chowder Luncheons. She enjoyed her many years as a bell ringer with the Winthrop Area Handbell Ringers, and singing with the church choir.

She loved all of the pets in her life, but her pets Sugar, Lucky, Torra and Tibby were especially loved and missed.

Lee is survived by her daughters; her six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her brother Lewis Rae York (99!); and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father and mother, her sister Natalie Agnes (York) Richards, and her husband Steve. One of the greatest joys in her life was being Grammie Lee to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Grateful thanks are extended to the doctors and nursing staff and Maine General Medical Center and Gray Birch Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care given to Lee and her family. Their kindness is greatly appreciated.

Visiting hours will be at the Winthrop Congregational Church UCC, 10 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine, on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The funeral service will commence at the same venue at 1:30 p.m, with a reception to follow. A private committal service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, Winthrop, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

We invite those who knew Leslie to help celebrate her life by sharing their memories, stories, and photos on her memorial page http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com This will help those who loved her to remember, grieve, and celebrate the remarkable woman Leslie was.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine.

If desired, memorial donations may be made to:

Kennebec Valley

Humane Society

168 Leighton Rd.

Augusta, Maine 04330