PENSACOLA, Fla. – Cecile M. Bowden, 91, of 526 Court St. in Auburn, passed away Saturday, Nov. 15, after a lengthy illness in Florida.

She was born in Lewiston, on Oct. 25, 1917, a daughter of Alex and Elizabeth Moreau. She was educated in local schools, graduated from Lewiston High School and remained a lifelong resident of this community.

On Sept. 11, 1938, she married Donald C. Bowden, who predeceased her on Feb. 17, 2001. She worked many years as a waitress in local restaurants including 20 years at the Lewiston Howard Johnson’s until her retirement.

Among her favorite enjoyments were camping, skiing, doing crossword puzzles, crocheting and other various forms of needlework. She also loved chocolate. In her later years, she took up oil painting as a serious hobby and was an art student with Charlie’s Angels and also took art lessons at Lewiston High School for more than 25 years.

She leaves her two daughters, Jacqueline Blake and husband, Larry Blake, of Milton, Fla., and Joline Small and husband, Michael Small, of Acton, Mass.; granddaughters, Laurie Barta, Vicki Bennett, Shelly Blake and Shannon Gehrke; one grandson, Marc Small; eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; special caregivers, Kevin Hardman, Sandi Tilley, and Jane Majors; and special friend, Margaret Sheehan.

She was predeceased by her great-grandson, John Paul Barta, who was a casualty of the Iraq war; and sisters, Rollie Brunetti, Bibiane Cyr and Connie Fournier.