LEEDS — Charlotte Norton Barker, 84, passed away at her home Monday, Dec. 4, after a lingering illness. She was born in Wenham, Mass., on June 30, 1933, the daughter of Kenneth and Lydia (Jones) Norton.

As a child in 1941, her family moved to Livermore Falls where her father finally was able to have his desire of operating his own farm. She went to Livermore Falls High School, graduating in 1951.

At her mother’s suggestion, she entered the Fanny Farmer Cooking and Baking School in Boston but soon after, knowing that this wasn’t her passion, she went into training as a nurse at The Children’s Hospital, School of Nursing in Boston. This was the profession that she truly loved and enjoyed. Upon her graduation, she returned to Maine and used her nursing skill to help and teach others at Central Maine General Hospital, now CMMC in Lewiston. She later worked as a home health nurse for Androscoggin County, and ended her career as a forensic charge nurse at the state mental health facility in Augusta. She would then fill in at various positions throughout the hospital a couple of nights per week until her final retirement. Throughout her career, she taught nursing courses, which she not only loved to do but found so rewarding. She had many a tale of her nursing experiences that she would love to tell, to the delight of her listeners.

On June 15, 1957, she married Ted Barker of Leeds, whereupon they made their home on his family’s farm and raised their four boys, Gene, James, David and Douglas. She was so proud of every one of them and the accomplishments that they have achieved. After their divorce, she married George Bray Sr. of Turner and they moved to Monmouth. He passed away in 1992. Later, she and Ted renewed their love for each other, remarried and built a home on the Gould Road in Leeds.

Charlotte was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. She spent many hours helping the Leeds Grange with their clothing program and at the Women’s Association of the Leeds Church, either making or tying quilts to be given to others. She loved to bake and would make various desserts for the Leeds Fire Department to have at their biweekly meetings. She and Ted would also make over 40 dozen raised doughnuts for the department’s breakfasts that occurred both in the spring and fall. She was a very avid quilter, having made 214 quilts for anyone who would want or needed one. She also made many baby quilts, quillows, table runners, pillows, etc., but she would say that they didn’t count! Charlotte was also a member of the Turner Red Delicious Diva’s Red Hat group, proudly serving in the role she called “Vice Queen.” She enjoyed the monthly get-togethers at different restaurants and was always doing something special to make these meetings more enjoyable.

She is survived by her husband, Ted, of Leeds, sons and wives; Gene and Heidi Barker of Sanford, Jim and Erin Barker of Georgetown, Mass., David and Vickie Barker and Douglas and Melanie Barker all of Leeds. Grandchildren, Beth, Andrew, Ben, Duncan, Paige and Aaron.

She was predeceased by her parents, Kenneth and Lydia Norton, former husband, George Bray Sr. and a grandson, William Barker.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

Charlotte Norton Barker

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