AUBURN – Phyllis Arleen Egan Newcomb, 87, of Poland, died Aug. 1. She was the only child of Elinora (Goodwin) and Frank Egan.

She was born Dec. 13, 1919, in Phoebus, Va., where her father was stationed nearby in the Navy. For most her life she resided in Portland.

She was a successful saleslady, setting up food product display booths at New England trade shows. Even in late years, her male cousins lovingly teased her by calling her “Miss Junket.”

After her marriage to Kenneth Newcomb on Oct. 27, 1971, they moved from Salem Street in Portland to Poland. “Babe” and Ken partnered in life and in business as buyers and sellers of antiques. While Ken dealt in marine and medical memorabilia, she collected china and dolls. They had several sales shops in South Portland and Windham.

She loved flowers, and her husband made her many gardens. She enjoyed decorating her home inside and out for each holiday with special care given to searching yard sales to find appropriate costumes for the dolls and bears. She cared for many real dogs and cats in her life and treated them as family.

She dressed fancy but loved simple things like a Red Rose tea, a Sunday ride, yard and garage sales, new nail polish, a colorful scarf, post cards, visits from her S.E.A.R.C.H. volunteers, Lawrence Welk reruns, Danielle Steele books and tapioca pudding.

She was a churchgoer and was a longtime member of South Portland’s Methodist Church, Minot United Methodist Church and most recently Poland Community Church (United Church of Christ). She made lasting relationships with every pastor and each of her church families.

She leaves a stepson, Merlin Newcomb, and his wife, Nancy, of Westfield, of whom she was very proud; her cousins, Patricia Clark Brown of Portland, Merton Clark and David, and his wife, Emma, of Kennebunk, who kept in close contact all her life. She had help from special friends, Mary and Sarah Fernald, Althea and Shirl Willey, Jesse and Chris Childs, Bob and Marlene Cummings, Debbie Lamb, the John Pongers, Don and Susie Stover and the John Laskeys for which she was so grateful.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband and his family; cousins, Fred and Isobel.

The family and friends wish to express appreciation for the care given to her by Dr. Tom Bosma, Karen, his R.N. and the staffs of Central Maine Medical Center and Clover Health Care.