1947 – 2016

LEWISTON — Donna Louise Hodgkins, born Oct. 8, 1947, died Tuesday, Sept. 13, in the Lewiston hospital where she was born.

From childhood, Donna was fascinated by birds, insects, animals, plants and rocks. During high school, Donna and her family moved from Lewiston to Melbourne, Fla. She graduated from Eau Gallie High School and returned to Maine to attend Portland School of Art. Before finishing college, she moved to Fayette, built a cabin in the woods and lived there for 20 years. She worked as a shoe stitcher and designer for Farmington Shoe Factory. She was active in the Starling Grange, hiked the Appalachian Trail in Maine, and was a Morris dancer.

In 1985, Donna returned to Portland School of Art, became a printmaker, and later, a sculptor. She was a birdwatcher, a gardener who grew dahlias and Brandywine tomatoes, a cat lover, a “foodie” and a rock hound. She loved camping at Mooselookmeguntic Lake. She was an adventurer, traveling solo to Newfoundland and across the USA.

After art school, Donna worked with physically and mentally challenged adults in group homes. In recent years, she moved to Damariscotta. Living on the edge of the woods, she continued enjoying nature, especially wild turkeys. She also observed wildlife around the world via webcams in Africa, Alaska and the ocean. Donna was a lifelong learner.

Donna is survived by her sister, Dale Moia and nephew, Blake Moia, of Melbourne, Fla., and many friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Margaret Frazier Hodgkins; and by her beloved cat, Jonesy.