FARMINGTON – Lillian N. Ayer, 84, a resident of Canton, died Monday, March 17, at Sandy River Healthcare Center after a brief illness.

She was born on Aug. 4, 1923, in Strong, the daughter of William and Gladys (Stailing) Bean and graduated from Morse Hill High School in Bath.

On May 8, 1942, she married William Ayer in Bath. He passed away on Oct. 25, 1993. She was a devoted homemaker and had also worked for the Maine Central Railroad as a clerk.

She and her husband enjoyed their summers camping at local campgrounds with their family and later in life had also traveled to Egypt and Jerusalem. Her greatest love was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the time spent with them.

She was a member of the United Baptist Church of Canton and a former member of the Pomona Rebekah Lodge of Canton.

She is survived by a daughter, Karen Timberlake and her husband, Joseph, of Canton; two sons, Robert Ayer and his wife, Claire, of Alpine, Texas, and Bryant Ayer and his wife, Vickie, of Mercer; a brother, Robert Stailing of Bath; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by three infant siblings, Birchard, Maynard and Lois; a brother, Carl Stailing; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn and Leona Stailing.