Caroline F. Strout

SOUTH PARIS – Caroline F. Strout, 85, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at Market Square Health Care Center in South Paris, Maine. She was born on April 15, 1935, in Portland, Maine and was raised in the home of her grandparents, Arthur G. and Sarah E. Welch. She attended the local one-room schoolhouse and then North Windsor Grammar School in Windsor, and Cony High School in Augusta, Maine.

She married Lawrence A. Strout on Jan. 12, 1952. After settling in Texas and moving to Kentucky during her husband’s service in the U.S. Army, she and her husband returned to Maine to raise their family.

In 1958 she worked as a payroll clerk at Belle-Moc Shoe Co. in Lewiston, eventually earning promotions to become the office manager. Later, she transferred to Arno Moccasin Company, also in Lewiston, where she served as office manager and executive assistant. Finally, she and her husband owned and operated the Dairy Joys in Lewiston and Auburn until their retirements.

She was a member of the Excelsior Grange in Poland, where she served as lecturer and enjoyed many state level activities. A lifelong Elvis Presley fan, she was eager to get on the dance floor for any rock and roll event and enjoyed dancing with her family and friends. During her Dairy Joy years and retirement years, summers were spent at the family camp at Tacoma Lake in Monmouth, Maine, and winters at Harbor Isles in Venice, Florida, where she loved to host family gatherings complete with “family camp traditions” to “Florida favorites.” She and her husband enjoyed traveling the world and sharing their passion for travel with their grandchildren. She was a life long learner who lived by the motto, “Work hard and play hard,” and passed that on to future generations.

She was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Lawrence, and siblings, Mildred Rodriguez, Mary Vogel, and Anthony Ywanciow.

She is survived by her children, Joan Simard, Lawrence Strout Jr. and his wife Tonya, and David Strout. She had 17 great-grandchildren and eight grandchildren and stepgrandchildren, Matthew Simard (Mariah), Meghan Chamberlain (Joshua), Erica Richardson (Zack), Allison Guide (Joshua), Alex Strout (Benjamin Allen), Katelyn St. Pierre (Justin) Kristin Dowling (Parker) and Nichole Warren (Ian).

Visitation will be at Fortin’s in Auburn on Thursday, April 22, from 4-5 p.m., immediately followed by a memorial service at the same location. All attendees are required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing per CDC regulations.

Friends and family are invited to share memories and tributes by signing the online guestbook at http://www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of The Fortin Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn.

Memorial donations in Caroline’s memory may be made to:

Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice

Attn: Development Office

15 Strawberry Avenue

Lewiston, Maine 04240

Androscoggin.org/donate

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