1923 – 2016

FARMINGTON — Geneva E. (McKechnie) Luce passed away peacefully on March 14, 2016, into the arms of Jesus surrounded by her loving family at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington. Her greatest enjoyment in life was caring for her husband and having family close.

She was born in Waterville on June 6, 1923, the daughter of Lester and Blanche Brown McKechnie. She attended kindergarten-eighth grade at Farmington Fairbanks School and graduated from Lawrence High School in Fairfield in 1942.

After high school, she worked at the Oakland Toothpick Mill and Cascade Woolen Mill, Waterville Cotton Mill and also Frojoy’s Ice Cream Factory in Bangor.

She belonged to Victor Grange in Fairfield Center and in later years attended Farmington Grange.

On April 11, 1949, she married the love of her life and her best friend, Earl L. Luce Sr. of Farmington, and since that time has lived on the Luce Farm on the Holley Road.

She enjoyed family gatherings, playing board and card games with family, her grandchildren and friends. She also loved writing poems, including one song she wrote titled the “Farmer’s Waltz,” reading Westerns and both flower and vegetable gardening. Her flower gardens were in the 1994 Mount Blue Garden Tour! She also loved playing her harmonica, especially the song she wrote, and “Church in the Wildwood” was one of the first songs she learned to play when she was 12 years old.

She and husband Earl loved going to dances in the early years of marriage and going coon hunting nights. She continued hunting throughout her life, including bagging an 800-pound moose in 1998. Geneva loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her devoted husband, Earl. She loved farm life (having grown up on one) and all farm animals, and loved making her famous potato doughnuts.

She is survived by five children, Earlene Luce Miller of Wilton, Earl (Duffer) Luce of New Vineyard, Weslene Luce Marble and husband, Richard, of Farmington, Debra L. Luce Durrell and husband, Peter, of Farmington, and Wesley (Kippy) Luce and companion, Amy Brown, of Boothbay; grandchildren, Travis Marble and wife, Liz, of Freeman, Douglas Marble and wife, Canaan, of Detroit, Becky Luce Hargreaves and husband, Jeff of New Hampshire, Janey Miller Ross and husband, Bennett, of Etna, Andrew Marble and wife, Sarah, of New Vineyard, Heather Durrell Brackley and husband, Justin, of New Vineyard, Hannah Durrell Boivin and husband, Josh, of Farmington, Christopher Luce of Washington, and Ashley Luce of Massachusetts; great-grandchildren, Katlyn, Megan, Landen, Keely, Risa and Denny Marble of Freeman, Zachary and Olivia Hargreaves of New Hampshire, Abigail, Matty, Ella and Ezra Marble of Detroit, Colby Ross of Etna, Hunter Luce of New Hampshire, Sydney Fletcher of Farmington, Makayla, Gavin and Garrett Brackley of New Vineyard, Avery and West Marble of New Vineyard; several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Levina McKechnie; and last but not least, her wonderful and devoted husband and dearest friend, Earl Lauris Luce Sr. of Farmington.

Geneva was predeceased by her parents; four sisters, Bernice McKechnie of Fairfield, Ola McKechnie Atwood of New Vineyard, Ruby McKechnie Goldsmith of Fairfield Center, and Phyllis McKechnie Harris of Farmington; six brothers, Eustis McKechnie of Fairfield Center, Donald McKechnie of Fairfield, Arthur McKechnie of East Dixfield, Lewis McKechnie of Fairfield Center, Richard McKechnie of Clinton, and Horace McKechnie; son-in-law, Alton Miller; and one grandson, Isreal Luce.

Condolences may be sent for the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.