AUBURN — Mary D. Paine, 91, died Sunday, June 18, at the Hospice House in Auburn after suffering a fall at her residence in Schooner Estates, Auburn.

Mary was born Dec. 14, 1925, in Rumford, the daughter of Edmond P. and Ruth G. Dorion. After graduating from Gould Academy, Mary was married to Earlon “Bud” Paine for 63 years. After Bud’s naval service in Long Beach, Calif., they moved back to Bethel with their baby daughter, Linda, in 1946. Their son, Richard, was born in 1949.

Mary had several jobs throughout her life, including picking apples at Lyons Orchards, selling World Book encyclopedias and holding Stanley Brush parties. After buying their home on Main Street, Mary worked for FHA in Bridgton, National Training Labs in Bethel and, in 1967, became teacher-director of Bethel Head Start, the first Head Start program in Oxford County. Mary continued her education at the University of Maine and the University of Massachusetts in conjunction with her employment. Following her Head Start position, Mary was officer manager for the National Forest Service in Bethel for 12 years. During this time, Mary and Bud built a new home on Chapman Street in Bethel. Following her retirement, Mary worked part time for Sunday River Ski Resort.

Mary and Bud enjoyed many enjoyable summers at camp on Songo Pond with the Coleman stove, fireplace, ice chest, outhouse and late-night wolf calls from Rudy Belanger. This followed with vacations at always sunny Bailey Island. Along the way, Mary and Bud had wonderful trips through the United States, Hawaii, Europe, and Aruba with other Kora Shrine fun-seekers. Mary was a member of Eastern Star, Bethel Historical Society, Bethel Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary and Bethel Senior Citizens.

Mary is survived by daughter Linda of Sypher Cove, N.B., Canada; son Richard and partner, Elaine Jacques, of Auburn; granddaughter Amy Collins and husband, Jeff, of Exeter, N.H.; grandsons Jameson Paine and wife, Carmen, of Stratham, N.H., and Richard Jackson of South Paris; great-grandchildren Sophie, Sean, Andy, Alexander and Abby; sister Sarah Lawthers and husband, Michael, of Bluffington, S.C.; cousins Sally Bodwell, Roger and Herb Adams and Berkley Maclaughlin; and family ties Terri Kelsea and husband, Bart, of Lewiston and Donald Ferraro of South Dartmouth, Mass.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Bud, in 2010 and her brother, Edmond, in 2012.

Our special thanks to Dr. William Medd and staff, Stephens Hospital, Norway Rehabilitation, Schooner Estates and The Hospice House, whom all helped to prolong Mary’s life, and, subsequently, she did “rage, rage against the dying light.”