AUBURN — Therese G. McPhee, 92 passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 4, at Clover Manor Health Care in Auburn. She was born Nov. 22, 1925, in Lynn, Mass., and was raised and educated in Marblehead, Mass, graduating from Marblehead High School in 1944. The day after graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the WAVES assisting the families of serviceman. She soon moved back home to begin working for the U.S. Navy in Boston. She attended Bryant & Stratton College.

At the end of the war, Terry met the love of her life while playing in a co-ed baseball game. On Aug. 21, 1948, she married William F. McPhee Jr. in Marblehead. They moved to Bangor while Bill went to the University of Maine, and started their family. In 1957, the family moved to Auburn, where they raised their four children. Terry was a homemaker until the kids were in their teens, when she entered the workforce, eventually being employed as the librarian at the Lewiston Sun Journal until her retirement. Interested in civic issues, she became president of the League of Women Voters.

Terry was a good athlete. As a youth, she was a strong swimmer and proud of being able to swim across Marblehead Harbor. Taught to play golf by Bill, she became a good golfer and was a member of Martindale Country Club and a president of the Women’s Association.

Following Bill’s death, mom was content with living a quiet life, occupying her time with family visits, reading romance novels, watching news and sports and doing word-search puzzles. Terry was proud of her heritage and was known for her feisty Irish character. A gracious lady with a heart of gold, she was always willing to extend a helping hand. She was the sunshine of our lives.

Survivors include children William F. McPhee III; James P. McPhee and wife, Charlene, and Lynn DiBiase and husband, John; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Terry was predeceased by Bill; a daughter, Peggy; and siblings Jack, Mary, Martha, Marnie and Ann.

Therese G. McPhee

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