1967 – 2014

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Susan Bellmore-Dee, 47, of Jay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 19, with her loving family and best friend by her side, after struggling with a lengthy illness and succumbing to complications due a recent surgery.

She was born in Lewiston on Oct. 15, 1967, a daughter of Gilbert and Pauline (Emond) Bellmore. Susan was raised in Livermore Falls with her “favorite” sister, Terri, graduated from Livermore Falls High School and continued her education at the University of Southern Maine in the paralegal program.

Susan joined her sister in California to pursue a career in modeling, but remained a down-to-Earth, modest young woman who returned to her Maine roots. In the late 1980s, Susan became the mother of her first child, Baylee Theresa, which was her mother’s dream. Susan diligently stayed by her mother’s side through the entirety of her mother’s battle with breast cancer, a battle that was lost a year later.

Continuing her mother’s dream of grandchildren, she, with her life partner, Richard Dee, raised five beautiful children. She made it her mission to dedicate her life to instill an accepting, optimistic and loving environment that her children will carry with them.

Susan had a fond attachment to anything with a heartbeat, from struggling teens to abandoned animals. Some would say Susan was the Martha Stewart of Jay; from her green thumb to the transformation of trash into treasure, turning weeds into festive wreaths and turning a blank canvas into a magical, eye-catching floral masterpiece.

Her main focus was to live a healthy life that included more time with her children and grandchildren, more time to spread her artistic talents and more time to savior the sunshine. Susan will leave us with the following, “Tuck and roll, bob and weave, Rhonda,” to remind us not to let life’s inevitable challenges knock us down.

Susan is survived by her life partner, Richard Dee; her children and grandchildren: stepdaughter, Kati and her daughter, Arabella Grace, of Portland; Baylee of Livermore; Garrett and his daughter, Amelia Reese, of Jay; Kahner of Jay; and Rilynn of Jay; her father, Gilbert Bellmore and his wife, Doreen, of Livermore Falls; and her sister, Terri Bellmore, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

She was predeceased by her mother, Pauline (Emond) Bellmore.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.finleyfuneralhome.com.