Carolee McIntyre

WINSLOW – We are saddened to announce the passing of our sister Carolee McIntyre on Nov. 22, 2024. She was born on Jan. 14, 1943, in Skowhegan, Maine, daughter of Elwood and Pauline (Greene) Gordon.

After graduating from Skowhegan High, she trained at Thayer Hospital in Waterville where she became a licensed X-Ray technician. She worked briefly at the Arlington/Simms Hospital in Waltham, Mass., then returned to Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan before continuing her career at Thayer Hospital where she worked for 41 years at what is now Maine General Hospital. She and her friend and colleague Amber George took over teaching the X-ray technician program within the hospital and she continued teaching when the program moved to KVCC. During this time, she was also the Chief X-Ray technician at the hospital, and eventually moved to the new FirstPark facility as Diagnostic X-ray Technologist. Over the years she came in contact with many of her former students who always thanked her for the education they received, and she was very proud of their successes.

She married Bruce McIntyre in1964 and they made their home in Waterville Maine. Bruce passed away in 2008 and she remained in their home until 2021 when she moved to Goudreau’s Retirement Waterfront in Winslow (She had a bit of a hard time with this move at first, since Winslow and Waterville were such big rivals!). At Goudreau’s she enjoyed friendships with the wonderful and caring residents and staff. The past three years were undoubtedly the easiest and most enjoyable for her. We cannot thank them enough for welcoming her into their community.

Carolee was known for her quick wit, intelligence, and work ethic. She had a wry Maine Yankee sense of humor. Caring, determined, curious, frugal (there is that Maine Yankee thing again), strong willed, stubborn, introverted (until something got under her skin) stern, a bit stoic, loyal, and always generous are words that describe her personality that we all experienced. 

She loved her family and friends and was happiest spending time with all of them. She enjoyed concerts at Portland Pops and plays at Maine State Music Theater. She loved golf and was the first to admit she was not very good at it. She and her friend of fifty plus years, Charlotte Roberge, took many golf trips to Myrtle Beach in hopes of improving their golf game. Watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy was a daily ritual often enjoyed with her good friend Al Trask. She always looked forward to trips to the coast for lobster with her brother and lunch out with her sisters and the gang.

Carolee is predeceased by her father Elwood and stepmother Dee Gordon, her mother Pauline and stepfather Everett Ryer, her husband Bruce, and her in-laws Mac and Alice McIntyre. 

She is survived by her sisters, Joni Gordon Beliveau (Peter), Janet Gordon Holden (Jim), of Portland, and her brother Gary Ryer (Megan) of Hancock New Hampshire, along with her niece Devin Beliveau of Cranston RI, her nephews, Jamie Holden of Portland, Tim Holden (Wendi), and great-niece Stella of Yarmouth, and David Ryer of Atlanta, Ga., along with several cousins.

The family wishes to thank her long-time doctor, David Preston, with whom she had a great rapport, along with his staff, especially Debbie. We also wish to thank the caring staff at Maine General Hospital and Kim Ames, who, in recent months, helped Carolee daily with her meds. Carolee was always in control of her life until the very end. Her feisty spirit will live on with us forever.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at Skowhegan Federated Church, 13 Island Ave Skowhegan on Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. There will be a private burial in the spring.

Please visit Carolee’s memorial page at https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/carolee-mcintyre where condolences, photos, and special memories may be shared.