1923 – 2015

LEWISTON — Doris Barber Riley, 92, of Sheffield Avenue in Lewiston, died Monday afternoon, Dec. 21, at Central Maine Medical Center with her daughter at her side.

She was born in Auburn on Sept. 12, 1923, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Leavett) Barber. She was educated in local schools and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1942. Following high school, she graduated from Pelletier’s Beauty School in 1942 and later from the Harper Method Beauty School in Rochester, N.Y. Years later, Doris attended the University of Maine and also the Bangor Theological Seminary. She spent 40 wonderful years with her life partner, Dr. Merton Flanders, until his passing on April 1, 2004.

Doris owned and operated the LACH Beauty Shop for many years in Lewiston which was named after the Lewiston-Auburn Children’s Home. Doris forever had tremendous respect for the children’s home and attributed so much of whom she had become as a person to the years she lived there as a child. In fact, some years later, fate brought her back to the children’s home for a time as a manager of the home. In addition, she owned and operated the Harper Method Beauty Shop for more than 20 years. Later on, Doris worked during the 1960s for W.T. Grant Co. as credit manager until her retirement in the early 1970s.

Being a lady of strong faith, she taught Sunday school and was active for many years at both High Street Congregational Church in Auburn and the United Church of Christ in Lewiston. Among her enjoyments were knitting mittens and other cold-weather items for neighborhood children as well as for Catholic Charities and simply being the incredible volunteer that she was. She gave so much of herself and volunteered countless hours for many local community organizations and was always doing all she could to help others and to be there for anyone in need. She also enjoyed reading and baking, especially baking her award-winning apple pies. In the 1980s, she and Merton enjoyed many wonderful social times with good friends living on the ocean at Cundy’s Harbor. But most of all, she enjoyed all of the special family times with her daughter and grandchildren. Doris was a loving, devoted and hardworking life partner, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed.

She leaves behind her daughter, Ethyl A. Potvin and partner, Richard Graves, of Mechanic Falls; Scott Flanders, whom she thought of as a son, of South Portland; her grandchildren, who were the loves of her life, Melissa McCarthy and husband, Andy, of Dorchester, Mass., and Danielle Potvin and husband, Joe Gilbert, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; her great-grandchildren, Fiona McCarthy and Callum McCarthy of Dorchester, Mass., and Juniper Gilbert of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her infant granddaughter, Desiree Potvin; four brothers, Raymond, Joseph, Charles and Robert Barber; three sisters, Melvina Tracey, Elizabeth Williams and Constance Thomas; and her parents.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with Doris’ family by visiting their online guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.