FARMINGTON — Helen Beverly Gossom, 92, died Sunday afternoon, July 27, at Pinewood Terrace, where she had resided for four months, with loving family at her side.

She was born June 5, 1926, in Portland, a daughter of Elmer and Nellie (Osgood) Lawrence. Helen was a graduate of Deering High School and on Nov. 17, 1945, married Donald Cameron Gossom at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Portland. He predeceased her July 25, 2016.

In addition to being a homemaker, Helen was a bookkeeper for many years at FirstBank in Farmington. She also co-owned Don’s AG wither her husband in downtown Farmington for many years.

She was an animal lover, particularly of dogs and cats, of which she had enjoyed many as family pets over the years; her favorite, she recently announced, was her last pet, Kayley, a Sheltie dog.

Helen and her husband traveled extensively, but what she most enjoyed was her home, her flower gardens and her artwork. She was both a watercolor and oil paint artist. She was never idle and her creative energy was also directed to braiding rugs with her daughter, Nancy.

Following the passing of her husband, she very much enjoyed the Senior Grief Group at Old South Congregational Church, where she developed many friendships.

She is loved by her family. She leaves four daughters: Donna Hargreaves and her husband, Gregory, of New Vineyard, and their son (grandson):Jeffrey Hargreaves and his wife, Rebecca, and their children (great-grandchildren): Zachary and Olivia Hargreaves; Nancy Barker and her companion, David Weeks, of Farmington; and grandchildren: Thomas Barker and his wife, Amanda; Christopher Barker; Amy Barker and her companion, Kenny Lake, and great-grandchildren: James Barker and his fiancée, Lyndsay Beane; Ian Barker, Eben Barker, Brandon Bard, Madison Bard and Alayna Barker; Robin Johnson and her husband, Scott, of West Bath; and daughter (grandchild), Lisa Peterson, and her children: (great-grandchildren) Emily Reeder and her husband, Harrison, and her son (great-grandchild), Adam Peterson; and (granddaughter), Jen Everett, and her husband, Russ Sprague, and their children (great-grandsons): Owen Sprague and Isaac Sprague; and Kathy Gossom of New Sharon and her children (granddaughter): Melissa Lovejoy and her husband, William, and their children (great-grandchildren): Harley and Kain; (grandson) Samuel Miskin and his wife, Mary, and their children (great-grandchildren): Elijah, Rose and Theodore “Teddie”; and (grandson) Erik Miskin and his wife, Carrie, and their children (great-grandchildren): Grace and Emma; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Ruth Gossom; brother-in-law, Harry Gossom; brother, Robert Lawrence; and sons-in-law Lester Everett and Donn Barker.

Helen B. Gossom


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