1916 – 2013

SOUTH PARIS — Viola R. Stone, 97, of Mechanic Falls, died Saturday, Aug. 10, at Market Square Health Care Center in South Paris.

She was born in Mechanic Falls on Feb. 24, 1916, the daughter of Carroll and Martha Wilson Raymond. In 1934, she graduated from Mechanic Falls High School where she played varsity basketball for four years and was pianist for the glee club, orchestra and band. She was also the editor and manager for the Girls Athletic Association and treasurer of the student council.

On June 1, 1940, she was married to Gardner C. Stone at the Minot Corner Methodist Church.

While attending the United Methodist Church in Mechanic Falls, she played the organ for weekly services for more than 25 years, until the church closed. When the congregation merged with the United Methodist Church at Minot Corner, she continued as the organist there for a short time. In addition to being the organist for these organizations, she also played for the Eastern Star, while also being a life member as well as past matron.

Her first place of employment was at the Ben Franklin Store in Mechanic Falls. She also worked at Seavey’s Candy Kitchen and Hoague Sprague Shoe Box Factory in Auburn. Later, she was the manager of the Mechanic Falls school lunch program at Elm Street School for 20 years, retiring in 1980.

She belonged to the F & G Square Dance Club of Gray, where she met many lifelong friends and also enjoyed camping with them.

She is survived by her three daughters, Evelyn and her husband, John Davis, of Poland, Carol and her husband, Clarence Allen Jr., of South Paris and Valerie and her husband, John Emery II, of Mechanic Falls; five grandsons, John Davis Jr., and his wife, Suzanne, and their son, Spencer, of Mechanic Falls, Craig Allen and his wife, Dawn, and their daughters, Jessica and Katie of Columbia, Md., Christopher Allen and his wife, Andi, and their son, Carter, of Morrison, Colo., Rob Hackett and his wife, Trina, and their son, Quinn, of Minot and Steve Hackett and his wife, Elyssa, and their sons, Gavin and Callan, of Mechanic Falls; a nephew, Ronald Raymond and his wife, Ann, of Monmouth; and a sister-in-law, Gracie Stone of Auburn.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Gardner C. Stone; and four brothers, Carroll, Harold, Donald and Chester Raymond, who was killed in Italy during World War II.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.