1911 – 2003

SKOWHEGAN – Margaret Bushley Knauer, 92, died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones at Cedar Ridge “Resort” in Skowhegan, where she had been a guest for about two years.

She was born on Hancock Street in Rumford, on May 30, 1911, the daughter of Nelson T. and Margaret Gillis Bushley. She graduated from Stephens High School in 1928 and Farmington Normal School in 1930. She married Frank Knauer on Dec. 26, 1936 and they made their home on Granite Street in Mexico for many years. He predeceased her on June 1, 1988.

She taught elementary school at the Bisbee School in Rumford and at Abbott School in Mexico, retiring in 1975. She was a communicant of St. Theresa’s Church in Mexico. She was a member of the Mexico School Board for six years, and a member of the N.E.A., M.T.A. and Oxford County Teachers Association.

She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Farrington Morton Cemetery Association, belonged to the former Swift River Grange, served on the board of directors of the Oxford County Senior Citizens in South Paris, and was a member of the Neighborly Senior Citizens of Dixfield and the Canton Senior Citizens group.

Surviving are two sons, Charles and wife Mary of Auburn, and N. Thomas of Mexico; three daughters, Peggyanne Blankenship of South Berwick, Catherine and husband David Horne of Santa Claus, Ind., and Barbara and husband Ric Arnold of Norridgewock; one brother, William Bushley and wife Clara of Wallingford, Conn.; 10 grandsons; four granddaughters; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by four sisters, Jessie Holmes of Gorham, Katherine Williams of Nova Scotia, Flora Burgess of Rumford, and Lillian Klein of Mexico; and one brother, Donald and wife Marion of Gorham.