1920 – 2004

AUBURN – Mildred Merritt Barnikow, 83, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 3, with her loving family at her side.

She was born on May 23, 1920, in Fort Fairfield, the daughter of Grace Findlen Merritt and Charles E. Merritt.

She graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1937, and attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Portland, graduating as a registered nurse in 1943.

She married Lester R. Barnikow and moved to East Haven, Conn., where she raised seven children. At Yale New Haven Hospital she began her long, dedicated career as R.N.

In 1967, she returned to Maine, and began working at Maine Medical Center. She worked there for more than 19 years, most of the time as head nurse on what was the Urological-Neurological Unit.

Retiring from nursing in 1986, she enjoyed traveling and spending time with her large extended family. She took a keen interest in everyone’s activities and did not hesitate to lend support and inspiration to all. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.

Survivors include three sons, Richard J. Barnikow of Branford, Conn., Robert C. Barnikow of Mt. Pocano, Pa. , and David M. Barnikow of Zuni, Va.; four daughters, Gayle Lopez of Cleveland, Ohio, Lynne Bond of Jefferson, Barbara Dodge of Topsham and Elizabeth Folsom of Auburn; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, John Merritt of Stockholm; and a sister, Alice Stone of Shalimar, Fla.

She was predeceased by a grandson, Jeff Allen Barnikow in 1995.