NORTH MONMOUTH – Shirley Ridlon, 81, a resident of Annabessacook Road, North Monmouth, died Thursday, Aug. 25, at her home.

She was born on Aug. 14, 1924, in Walnut Hill, the daughter of Sherman F. and Catherine (Rogers) Bryant. She went to school at Kents Hill and was a “1942” graduate of Cony High School in Augusta. She continued her education at CMG School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse in 1946.

On Jan. 10, 1950, she married Forrest I. Ridlon in North Monmouth; he died March 11, 1989.

She worked at CMG in Lewiston, later did private duty nursing, and also worked at Knowles Nursing Home in Winthrop for seven years, which was later known as Heritage Nursing Home. She then went to work at the Augusta General Hospital in the pediatrics department for 26 years, becoming head of the department and retiring in 1988.

She was a member of the Maine State Nursing Association, an active volunteer in the reading program at Henry Cottrell School in Monmouth, and worked at St. Francis of Xavier Church for the Senior Citizens Meal Program.

She also organized trips out of Augusta and Lewiston to the Boston flower shows.

She enjoyed beano, knitting, sewing, growing African violets, and summer at Wiscasset and Popham Beach.

She is survived by a son, Bruce Ridlon of Parkville, Md.; a daughter, Catherine Ellis of Burnham; six grandchildren, Sean, Edin, Leana, Colin, Nol and Wesley Ridlon; a great-granddaughter, Freya; a brother, James M. Bryant of Alexander, Va.; three sisters-in-law, Doris Bryant of Winthrop, Vivian Small of Elliott and Grace Ridlon of North Monmouth; and her dog, Chopper.

Copy the Story Link