Dora May Richards

1929-2009

LEEDS — Dora May Richards, 81, of Leeds, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 27, at her residence.

She was born in Rumford on Oct. 22, 1928, the daughter of the late Charles N. and Mary L. DesRoches Porter. She was educated in Rumford schools. She was married to Harvey J. Richards, who predeceased her on Aug. 13, 2007.

In her younger years, she was employed as a short order cook at Freddy’s Restaurant in Rumford. Later, she, along with her husband, owned and operated a stable of racehorses. There they trained and drove race horses in the 1950s until they retired in the 1970s.

In her later years, she still enjoyed going to the horse races in Maine; and while living in Massachusetts, she would go to PlainRidge most every Monday and Tuesday. Dora also enjoyed cooking, was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan, and enjoyed going to the OTB in Lewiston. She was a member of the U.S.T.A. and the M.H.H.A.

She is survived by two daughters, Mary Jane Parker and fiancé, Gaetan Cloutier, of Leeds, and Pam Averill and husband, Mark, of Sabattus; two sons, Gary and wife, Ginhee, of Schenectady, N.Y., and Gerald and wife, Sondra, of Leeds; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Louise Beaulieu of Yucaipa, Calif., and Clara Bullen of Sabattus.

She was predeceased by a son, William “Terry”, on June 28, 2008; and three brothers, Fred, Billy and Francis Porter.