1926 – 2014

GRAY — Merilyn E. Cole Pollard passed away at her home in Gray on Monday, April 7.

She was born in Gray on Dec.10, 1926, a daughter of Hewitt and Jennie Cole. She grew up in Gray, attended local schools and graduated from Pennell Institute in 1944. In 1946, she married James W. Pollard and they raised four sons: Gary, David, Jeffrey and Bradley. She was devoted to her family, and her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Merilyn worked for the local telephone company, Pine Tree Telephone, and for a short time afterward for New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. Merilyn was the first waitress at Cole Farms Restaurant when it opened in 1952. She then went on to hiring and managing the staff for more than 40 years. She hired many of the youths in Gray and the surrounding towns. She had an uncanny ability to relate to young people; they admired her and many have become lifelong friends.

She and her husband, Jim, enjoyed playing social and duplicate bridge in Portland and Auburn. They loved traveling to many tournaments around the New England area. In later years, Merilyn enjoyed playing bridge on Friday evenings with her girlfriends.

Any time family and friends got together, you could find Merilyn playing a friendly game of cribbage. Holiday celebrations and cribbage just went hand-in-hand. She cherished the games played with her family and most recently her great-grandson, Elliott. How she loved to win!

Since 1960, Merilyn has enjoyed her summers spent at Little Sebago Lake with her family. She would always recount the special moments, whether it was a quiet afternoon in the sun, boating on the lake or a bustling family gathering. Having fun was a must at camp!

She is survived by her sons, Gary, David and wife, Carol, Jeffrey and wife, Bonnie, and Bradley and wife, Peggy; her five grandchildren, Scott Pollard with children, Elliott and Cole, and their mom, Amy Grant, Valerie Dominski and husband, Todd, with children, Allie, Landon and Dawson, Darcie Watkinson and husband, Lee, with children, Mariah, Noelle and Mallory, Erin Pollard and Brandon Pollard; sister-in-law, Jane Barton; sister-in-law, Donna Hill and husband, Sherman; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Jim; two brothers, Norman and Warren Cole; a sister-in-law, Hazel Cole; one sister, Ellen McCann and husband, Fred; and a foster brother, Harland McPherson.

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