NORWAY – Mary-Abbie “Babs” Pulsifer Kilgore, 81, of Norway passed away Wednesday, Nov. 26, at her home surrounded by her loving family and wonderful care givers within earshot of her beloved chickadees.

She was born in Lewiston, on April 3, 1927, to George and Harriet (Mitchell) Pulsifer, and was educated in Poland public schools. Three years ago, she attended her 60th Edward Little High School reunion, and she was looking forward to her 60th University of Maine reunion next summer. Babs married Kenneth H. Kilgore on Aug. 26, 1950.

She worked as a dietitian at Central Maine General Hospital, now Central Maine Medical Center, in Lewiston, and Lasalle Jr. College in Newton, Mass. In 1954, she retired from working outside the home to raise two sons, grow gorgeous dahlias, and ensure that the chickadees, Baltimore orioles, and rose breasted gross beaks and an occasional bear and raccoon were well-fed.

She was a member of the First Congregational Church in South Paris and a Daughter of the American Revolution. She was an avid bridge player, bidding her final “three no trump” less than two weeks ago and regularly attended exercise class with some of her closest friends. Election Day, 2008 was the first presidential election since 1964 that she didn’t work at the polls.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Kenneth, of Norway; two sons, Jeff and his wife, Edith Beatty, of Waterbury Center, Vt., and Tek and his wife, Anne, of Salt Lake City, Utah; three beautiful and handsome grandchildren, who meant more to her than words could express, Alexandra Kilgore, Taittinger Kilgore and Hobert “Hobie” Kilgore; one nephew; and three nieces.

She was predeceased by her sister, Caroline Ehrenfest; and her brother, Allen Pulsifer.