1925-2003

NORWAY – Sylvia A. Gerlaugh, 78, of Oxford died Sunday morning, Dec. 7, at Stephens Memorial Hospital following a very short, quick bout with cancer.

She was born in Norway on July 21, 1925 to Edwin G. and Dorothy Hussey Austin. She graduated from Norway High School in 1944. Enlisting and serving in the U.S. Army in 1944, during World War II, she was stationed in Germany where she worked as a postal worker. There she met and married her husband, William G. Gerlaugh. She was honorably discharged in 1951. She worked for Nolan Jackson at Jackson’s Market in the 1940s to put herself through high school. After serving in the U. S. Army, she worked for Wilner Wood Products, and cleaned houses for them part-time. She also worked for Forrest Martin part-time at Martin’s Market.

She then moved to California and spent several years out there. Upon moving back, she worked at Paris Manufacturing for many years and later worked for Norway Footwear until retiring. She resided in Oxford Pines Trailer Park for 25 years. Always busy, she loved being outside doing things, whether caring for her outside plants, raking, feeding her birds, or going up the ladder to “fix” her roof, which she was always “scolded” for. Her reply, “I know what I’m doin’, I’m not gonna fall.” This she always did, even this past summer. She was a very strong and strong-willed lady. She was a person with a big heart that would help anyone that she could. She enjoyed hearing about the goings-on at her daughter’s dairy farm in Skowhegan and was always anxious to find out when a cow calved, if it was a bull or a heifer.

She is survived by her daughter, Geraldine Saunders of Skowhegan; her granddaughter, Tracy Lorrain and her two sons; a sister, Karen Stanley of Oxford; and a brother, Donald Austin and his wife of Norway.