LEWISTON – Pauline Lander Higgins, 85, of Higgins Street, Lisbon Falls, died Monday afternoon at Central Maine Medical Center following several months of declining health.

She was born in Lewiston, March 14, 1919, the daughter of Cathers and Mary (Bartlett) Lander. She was raised in Kingfield, which she always referred to as “God’s country.” She was educated in the schools of Kingfield, having graduated from the Stanley School, and was a 1941 graduate of Colby College where she received a bachelor of arts degree in English.

At Colby College, she participated in public speaking, was a member of the Powder and Wig Society, and the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After college, she taught Latin, English, history, and French at Freedom Academy for two years. During this time, she also coached dramatics and public speaking.

On March 21,1942, she was married in Waterville, to Earl Wentworth Higgins. While he was in United States Air Force cadet training at UCLA, she worked in the UCLA Meteorology Department for two years. She returned to Maine for the remainder of his military service. Although she had a great love for teaching, she chose to stay home to raise her four children. During these years, she was active in the Christmas Club, the Lotus Club, and dearest to her heart, the Lisbon Shakespeare Club. She gradually returned to teaching by tutoring students and substitute teaching. She then resumed full-time teaching at Lisbon High School, where she taught English, Latin, and history for nine years. She also served as advisor to the cheerleaders.

She was a lady of many interests. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, writing poetry and writing short stories. She wrote two series of children’s tales, which included Maine Indian legends, and stories of a leprechaun named Clancy. She also loved researching family genealogy. But her greatest passion, outside of her family, was for books. She would laugh and say that she bought books when she should buy bread. During her retirement years, they enjoyed traveling throughout the United States as well as along the coastal region of Canada. They loved visiting friends and exploring new places.

Survivors include three sons, Michael C. Higgins and his wife, Patricia, of Leeds, Peter L. Higgins and his wife, Sherrie, of Greene, and Matthew H. Higgins and his wife, Sonia, of Greene; one daughter, Mrs. Peter (Trudy H.) Brown of Durham, N.H.; nine grandchildren, Jonathan Higgins of Cumberland, Mrs. Bradford (Sharon) Pattershall of Freeport, Mrs. Patrick (Cheryl) Gregorich of Kennebunk, Mrs. Paul (Rebecca) Lewis of Greene, Angela Higgins of Turner, Joshua and Seth Higgins both of Greene, Camden and Jacob Brown of Durham, N.H.; two great-grandchildren, Sean and Matthew Lewis of Greene; and several nieces and nephews.