1932 – 2003

FARMINGTON – Leola Defoe, 70, of 73 Tom Cross Road, Kingfield, died early Friday morning, April 11, at Franklin Memorial Hospital after many years of living with cancer.

She was born Leola Carolyn Daker on Aug. 21, 1932, to Alta (Harris) and John Daker. She lived her early years in Dixfield, where her parents were teachers. She attended Emerson College in Boston and Bates College in Lewiston, graduating in 1956. While working at Dartmouth College, she met and married Gardner Defoe of Dixfield.

They had three children: a daughter, Alta Lee, who died in 1961, and two sons, Darren Defoe, currently of Biddeford, and Derek Defoe of Kingfield. The major part of her adult years was spent in running the family business, Sugarloafers Ski Camp, and Wilderness Waterways with her husband, and in caring for her family. She never ceased to expand her mind and interests.

At 50 she joined a PeeWee Hockey team and traveled 60 miles to suit up and skate. At 60 she was attending rock concerts with her sons, and at 65 she was reading Chaos Theory. She sought the sun in all people she met. She was much beloved and will be sorely missed. Her great loves were her family, literature, writing, playing the piano, and being outside in the sunshine.

She leaves her husband and two sons, a sister, a granddaughter, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held at a later date.