1932 – 2015

NORWAY — Catherine D. McAllister, 83, of West Paris, died Monday, Feb. 16, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.

Cay was born in Portland on Feb. 6, 1932, to the late Patrick and Marion Norton.

On July 18, 1949, she married Robert L. McAllister; he died in April 2008. They lived in a house built by Red on Greenwood Road in North Norway, and she worked in the shoe shops as a teenager.

They left Maine around 1959, living in a few of the New England states with their children, until returning to Maine in March 1974. They lived on Ellingwood Road in West Paris, until the death of her husband in 2008.

She worked in the shoe shops until her retirement, and she also worked at the old Shop ‘n Save when it was where the Department of Health and Human Services now stands in South Paris.

At the time of her death, she resided at Ledgeview Living Center, where she was loved by all of the staff who cared for her.

Cay had many interests over the years: She loved to be outside, enjoying the days. She was an avid reader. She loved to work in the garden with her flowers and the vegetable garden they had over the years.

Cay also loved to sew, making many things. I remember growing up, she made many clothes for me, then for her granddaughters, making them clothes and clothes for their Cabbage Patch Dolls, some of which they still have.

She went to Oxford Hills and took a class for cake decorating as a pastime. She also took a quilting class; over the years, she made many beautiful quilts for the family.

Cay is survived by her children, Steve McAllister of North Norway and Roberta Bryan and husband, Sam, of South Paris; her beloved granddaughters, Davina Meader of Portland and Janelle Meader of Auburn, with whom she always had a wonderful relationship; and her two great-granddaughters, Cloe Catherine and Delylah Rayne Stickney of Auburn. She is also survived by a brother, Sonny Norton, of South Paris; and sisters, Beverly Rosenberg of South Paris and Hilda Currier of West Paris.

The family would like to thank the many staff at Ledgeview Living Center in residential care and long term care who helped take care of her during her stay.

We would also like to thank the staff at Stephens Memorial Hospital for the amazing comfort care given to her, and for being great to the family and friends who visited her at that time, making sure we were all doing OK, and for the comfort cart from the kitchen that they provided us with three times a day, to four bags of chips that were brought up especially for us. A special thanks to Beth, Sarah and Kim, and I know there are a few whose names I don’t remember. Thank you all so very much for everything you did for her and for us — it was greatly appreciated.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.