Doris McGee Graustein Hastings

1914 – 2009

FRYEBURG – Doris M. Hastings, 95, of Fryeburg, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Nov. 10.

Her parents were Edward R. McGee and Annie Dorsheimer. She was born in Wayland, Mass., on July 2, 1914. She grew up in Cochituate, a village of Wayland. Doris attended the public schools in Wayland and graduated from its tiny high school. She then attended Wellesley College on scholarship, a source of great pride to Doris and her community.

Shortly after her graduation from Wellesley in 1935, Doris married Archibald R. Graustein. They had two boys, Bob, born in 1939, and John, born in 1941. He enlisted in the Navy soon after Pearl Harbor and spent much of the war in Australia. Doris raised the boys, found employment and also was able to take several courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her first marriage ended in divorce in December of 1945.

While living in Cambridge, Mass., with her two young sons, Doris rented a room to David R. Hastings II, a Harvard Law School student from Fryeburg. They fell in love and married on Jan. 18, 1947. Upon David’s graduation from law school, they moved to Fryeburg in 1949, where they have lived since.

After the move to Fryeburg, a son and daughter, David III and Ann were born. The family was later joined by two nephews, Ned and Bill Hastings, whose mother had died while her husband, a career Navy officer, was committed to sea duty. Ned and Bill were part of the family for some years before they were able to return to their father.

The growing family forced Doris and David to take up skiing, which they enjoyed with friends for many years. Doris also loved to play bridge, golf and enjoyed summers at their camp on Kimball Pond in Fryeburg. Later, Doris and David enjoyed many vacations in Europe and the Caribbean, and spending winter months at their condominium in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Perhaps Doris’ greatest happiness was when she was hosting a party for family or friends at her home. Every holiday and birthday would see a family dinner of 10 to 20 persons at the Hastings’ house or camp.

Doris was always interested in education, particularly in school counseling and testing. She attended Gorham State College at night and earned a master’s degree in Educational Counseling and went on to obtain a certificate of advanced graduate study from Boston University in 1974. Her interest in this field led her to work for several years as a volunteer in the Portland School Department and at Kennett High School in Conway, N.H. Later, she commuted to Hebron Academy for two years to work as a school counselor.

Doris was active in community affairs. She was a member and president of the Fryeburg Women’s Club and also the Oxford County Women’s Group. She worked actively as a member of the society caring for the Victorian Mansion in Portland. She served as a Cub Scout den mother for a number of years and was an active member and the President of the Western Maine Wellesley Club.

Doris’ oldest son, LCDR (do they mean Lt. Cmdr. ??) Robert S. Graustein, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and became a Navy pilot. He was killed in action in December of 1972, during his third tour of duty in Vietnam. This was a tragic loss for Doris and the family. Bob left a wife, Duddie, and three young sons, who returned to Fryeburg to make their home.

Doris is survived by David R. Hastings II, her husband of 62 years; and children, John A. Graustein and wife, Barbara, of Falmouth, David R. Hastings III and wife, Carol, of Fryeburg, Ann E. Hastings and partner, Patricia Burke, of West Baldwin; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.