LEWISTON – Jeffy the cat is sitting in Mavis’ chair. The dog is by her bed. Louie is mowing the lawn and the river is flowing by under skies of blue and clouds of white.

Mavis Carolyn Leavitt Varney of North Turner, died Monday, Aug. 25, at 9:15 p.m. at Central Maine Medical Center, with friends and family, and pictures of her great-grandchildren giving light in rotating images.

She was born on June 5, 1922, in the old Central Maine General Hospital, right before the daisies, her favorite flower, started to bloom. She was the daughter of Hazel Etta Talbot Leavitt and Raymond Day Leavitt. She attended the one room school house in Howe’s’ Corner for eight years, sliding to school in winter.

She stopped at Mrs. Polkinin’s for cookies every day on the way home. She had as much fun as possible while attending Leavitt Institute, trotting around town in her pony cart with friends, playing saxophone, singing in a band, sliding, swimming, and going to dances with her Uncle Charles. She loved skinny dipping, playing cards, sewing, knitting and telling jokes.

She attended the University of Maine in Orono, where she met her life long friend, “Sid,” known in some parts as Sister Mary Mathews, and lovingly referred to by us as the ‘Naughty Nun.’ She went to business school, and worked for Eastern States Farm Store for several years. During this time, she started dating Paul Varney, who quickly married her, having first eyed her years before, while trotting on her pony to visit his sisters when he was a boy.

She and Paul had a life long love for each other, their family, their town and their friends. In later years, their great love was snowmobiling, and their grandchildren, Sam and Woody Anderson, and for Mavis, her great-grandchildren, Ashley and Dylan Anderson, the children of Sam and his wife, Lisa.

Her daughter Paula would like to extend thanks to family, friends and neighbors, and Lou who gave Mavis so much support during these last few years.