AUBURN – Phyllis Margaret Dow, 95 of Auburn died on November 17, 2023. She was born in Mount Vernon, Maine on July 11, 1928 to John and Isabelle (Piper) Webber

She attended elementary school in Mount Vernon before moving to Augusta and graduating from Cony High school in 1946. She attended nursing school, graduating in 1951 to include an internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. In the 70’s she completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine.

While in nursing school she met her husband Marty on a blind date and they married on September 11, 1949 first living in Orono, Maine while Marty was attending the University of Maine. In June of 1951 their first son, Marty Jr. was born followed by Gary in 1954 and Janice in 1957. They settled in Auburn where Phyllis worked in local hospitals and provided private duty nursing while Marty carved out a career in banking. Phyllis worked hard as a nurse and was committed to taking care of her family. She retired in 1992 after working for many years as a nurse with the Auburn School Department.

Phyllis was an excellent host and always enjoyed the family’s summer camp on China Lake where she loved to socialize, sunbathe and play cards with friends and family that lived in the area. She was everyone’s biggest fan and was a strong supporter of her husband’s collegiate and subsequent semi-pro baseball career. She and Marty hardly missed an athletic or social event that involved any of the children or grandchildren. We could always look to the stands and be assured that they were there cheering us on.

Once retired, Phyllis maintained a thriving social life enjoying daily coffee klatch with an assortment of close friends known as “The Piglets”, staying keen with all the local happenings and not missing a beat. Her home was also a focal point for her grandchildren and all of their friends to hang out after school, and surely eat plenty of tasty treats and allowing her to stay just enough in everyone’s business.

Known to be VERY generous with her time and love, Phyllis made the best personalized handmade gifts; doing all she could to help her family whenever possible. She was classy and caring. She gave so much and asked very little. She was adventurous and loved to walk daily (while collecting bottles and cans), tried snow skiing in her 40s, and rode her bicycle daily into her 70’s. She was an active member of the YWCA and the Auburn Exchange Club.

The last years of her life were lived at Schooner Estates with Marty, staying fit, keeping up on events, and visiting with family regularly. She resided at Clover Manor for six months until her peaceful passing. She was comfortable and felt well supported. Phyllis and family are very grateful to the staff for their incredible compassion and care.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband Martin Sr.; her sister Ruth McGary; her niece Donna McGary; and daughter-in-law Jane Dow.

She is survived by her son Martin “Rowdy” Dow Jr. and wife Cathy; son Gary Dow and wife Alicia; daughter Janice Packard and husband Chris; grandchildren Adam Dow and wife Hillary, Travis Dow and wife Kathy, Beth Dow, Heidi Joyner and Jacob Joyner; step-grandchildren Luke Margulies, Jacob Margulies, Christina Russell and husband Eric, Bennett Piccione and wife Bethany; great-grandchildren Blake, Zander, Eva and Tyler Dow; step-great-grandchildren Lilly and Morgan Jeffords; niece Sandra Mims and husband Bob and nephews Jack Shipley and Tom McGary.

A Memorial Service will take place in the spring of 2024.

To leave a condolence message for the family in the online guestbook, please visit: http://www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

A service of The Fortin Group Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Service, Auburn & Lewiston 207-783-8545.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Androscoggin Humane Society, 55 Strawberry Ave, Lewiston, ME 04240

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