1927 – 2013

PHILLIPS — Grazia Adelia Hemore Bangs, 86, who lived in Phillips for more than 62 years, died from complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Sandy River Nursing Home in Farmington.

She was born in Ludlow on Aug. 13, 1927, the daughter of Hattie Grazia Blanche White Hemore (Lawton, Currier) and Harry Von Hemore, who were married on Jan. 19, 1927, and divorced one year later. For the first 10 years of her life, she lived on her grandfather Nathaniel White’s farm, with six of her grandmothers living within a two-mile radius. She would have tea with her dolls, teddy bears and dog, Rowdy, under the two big shade trees. When her mother remarried to John Lawton on Sept. 4, 1937, her life took a different twist and she moved from one end of the state to the other.

Grazia recounted going to 12 schools, attending three different ones in one year. In high school, the family settled a bit and she attended South Portland High School as World War II claimed many of her classmates. On Nov. 11, 1947, she married Charles William Bangs, of Phillips, and spent the rest of her days in Phillips (until she had to move to residential care), living on the family farm.

She was a pioneer, yet a traditionalist. She raised a corn crop to pay for electricity for the house. She drove the twitch horse while her husband, Charles, logged in the woods, even though she was deathly afraid of horses. They had 20 or so cows and she worked fixing fences and helping on the farm, while bringing up four children.

In 1962, she went to work for Forster Manufacturing Co. in Strong, a job she held for more than 25 years, retiring in 1993. She was a wonderful seamstress, making many outfits for her daughters, including an outstanding velvet gown that her daughter, BJ, wore to a marine ball. She made doll clothes and stuffed animals for her grandchildren. In addition, she loved to travel and enjoyed history, genealogy, music, movies, pets and Winona Davenport’s mini-golf.

Summing up the sentiments of all her children, BJ said, “She was an absolutely awesome, amazing, wonderful person. She was my best friend. I could not have been blessed more than by having her as my mom and being part of such a wonderful family. She was both a saint and an angel.”

Prior to moving to Sandy River Nursing Home, she resided at the Alzheimer’s Care Center in Gardiner for more than two years with a wonderful, caring staff. While in residential care, her smile and laughter were contagious, and she brought joy to the staff and residents alike.

She is survived by her four children, Karen and husband, Leslie Phillips, of Avon and Brooksville, Fla., Dereen and husband, Arthur Storer, of Avon, Charles Bangs of Ellijay, Ga., and BJ (Betty-Jean) Bangs of Phillips; seven grandchildren, Dana McEwen of Portland, Leslie Flowers of Centerville, Utah, Rachelle Cox of Whitefield, N.H., Lance Storer of Avon, Christopher Bangs of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Laura Lanier of Rome, Ga., and Shannon McLean of Farmington; two sisters, Marilyn Jordan of Lee and Mildred Berube of Sabattus and Florida; and one brother, John Lawton of New Jersey.

She was predeceased by her mother; father; stepfather; sister, Gertrude Lawton Plateau on March 17, 2000; brother, Harold Lawton on April 14, 1992; son in-law, Roger Presby on Nov. 5, 1992; and her husband, Charles, on May 13, 1995.