SCARBOROUGH — Starr Adamo, 61, of New Portland, died Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Gosnell Hospice House, after a long and courageous battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

She was born Dec. 6, 1949, at Farmington, and was adopted soon after birth by John and Ruth (Robbins) Adamo. Starr was a 1968 graduate of Wilton Academy and graduated in 1971, with a bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Maine, Gorham.

Following graduation, she held positions as a supervisor in Lewiston, Oxford, Wilton and Methuen, Mass., schools. She also served as an alcohol abuse counselor at St. Mary’s Hospital, Lewiston, for several years.

In 1987, she and her partner, Beverly Francis, founded Thunder Ridge Kennels in New Portland, where they raised German Shepherds and Yorkshire Terriers and boarded and groomed dogs.

As her illness progressed, her artistic talent became therapeutic for her. She developed a new style that she called “stream of consciousness.” The story of these drawings was published in December by the Sun Journal, announcing an exhibit in Kingfield. Her talent and upbeat attitude inspired other patients and those caring for her.

In later life, she was able to establish contact and maintain a close relationship with her birth mother and siblings. To her adoptive parents and sister, she was a joy and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her partner, Beverly Francis of New Portland; her mother, Ruth Adamo of Wilton; her sister, Michelle Ouellette of Lisbon; two special cousins, Frank and Michael Masiello of New Jersey; her nephew, Jesse Jones and his wife, Sandra, of Lisbon; her niece, Torri Nolan and her husband, Mark, of Lewiston; two grandnephews; and many special friends.

She was predeceased by her father.

Condolences and tributes may be shared with her family at www.wilesrc.com. Following services, a video tribute may also be seen on this site.