1936 – 2004

FRYEBURG – M. Elaine Gushee, 67, of Portland Street, died Jan. 13, at her home, surrounded by her family, after a long illness with COPD.

Born April 8, 1936, in Raymond, the daughter of Harold and Hattie (Mason) Bennett, she graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 1954, and Gorham State Teachers College in 1958.

She had lived in Fryeburg since 1961, and taught in Turner, Damariscotta, MSAD 72 (Sadie F. Adams in North Fryeburg, New Suncook School in Lovell, the Annex in Lovell and the CA Snow School in Fryeburg).

She was a member of the Fryeburg Historical Society, Chatham Historical Society, the Fryeburg Budget Committee, Garage Committee and New England Hereford Association.

She was a 4-H leader, a devoted fundraiser for the Saco Valley 4-H Club and loved going to the agricultural fairs in Maine, where her children and grandchildren showed beef cattle, baby beef steers, sheep, market lambs and pigs.

Survivors include four daughters, Cynthia Gushee of Hyannis, Mass., Joline Gushee and husband, Tom Brooks of Freedom, N.H., and Diane and Barbara Gushee, both of Fryeburg; one son, Stephen Gushee and wife, Celeste of Boyce, Va.; two special grandchildren, Raymond Gushee-Frost and Hattie Gushee-Kimball; a sister, Marilyn Andrews of Fryeburg; two brothers, Edward Bennett and wife, Jan of Fryeburg and John Bennett of Manchester, by the Sea, Mass.; and one special cousin, Jane Karpoe of Raymond.