Florence M. Bailey

WATERFORD – On June 21, 2025, a couple of months after celebrating her 101st birthday, Florence M. Bailey, a beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, joined her husband, Bernard F. Bailey, on their next adventure. Florence was born on April 10, 1924, to Stewart and Sarah McIntosh in Beverly, Mass.

Her early years were spent in Massachusetts until her family moved to South Paris. She attended South Paris High with her twin sister Margie and graduated in 1942. That same year, she married Bernard in Norway, where they lived until Bernard entered World War II. After they retired, both she and Bernard traveled to Europe several times to experience the history of Bernard’s military experiences during the war. On one of their trips, Florence reconnected with her Scottish roots. Although she enjoyed their travels, she loved living in Maine. She especially loved the Oxford Hills area and, over the years, has shared many happy memories of her life, working as a teenager in the pickle factory in South Paris, Friday night community gatherings on Main Street in Norway, and many memories of tannery life in South Paris. She and her twin sister Margie attended the 1937 Littlefield Murder Trials and had very strong convictions of who was responsible for the murders (contrary to several current versions).

Florence loved collecting and reading cookbooks but rarely followed the recipes, often substituting ingredients she thought were too expensive or unnecessary. She became an inspiration in her 90s when she received a Kindle tablet at the age of 96. She and Alexa (AI) developed a close on-screen friendship, and Florence was able to watch all her favorite videos, including many cooking videos.

She also took up fly fishing. She read several books on fishing, borrowed a fly-fishing rod, and discovered many of the “hot fishing spots” in the area. Bernard was happy to drive her wherever she wanted to go to catch the big one. No memories of her catching an actual fish exist. 

Florence leaves her three children, Renny (Patt) Bailey of Waterford, Maine, Doreen (Bill) Scharfenstein of Essex, Connecticut, and Brian (Cindy) Bailey of Conway, New Hampshire. She also leaves five granddaughters, Maureen (John) Sansone, Kris (Tim) Kuvaja, Marcy Flemke, Birdie (Kaine) Bailey, and Lindsey (Laura) Bailey; six great grandchildren, Katy (Eric) Pietrasz, Christine Terwilliger, Josh (Ellie) Kuvaja, Jon (Kelsey) Kuvaja, Katelyn Flemke, Dale Flemke, and six great, great grandchildren with a seventh due July 2. She was predeceased by her husband of 76 years, her mother and father, and sisters Margie and Netta.

A private graveside service will be held on July 12, 2025 in South Paris, Maine. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 45 Main Street, South Paris. Online condolences may be shared with her family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com