1923 – 2017
AUBURN — Gracie M. Stone, 93, of Auburn passed away Sunday, Jan. 8, at Clover Manor Nursing Home.
She was born in Gorham, N.H., on March 20, 1923, the daughter of Theodore E. and Evie L. O’Hara Hall. She graduated from Edward Little High School in 1942. She earned very high ranks in high school but because her family did not have the means to send her to college, an anonymous benefactor offered to pay Gracie’s tuition to any school in Maine if she paid for her books and board. Gracie chose Bates College and graduated in 1945 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
She married John W. Stone on Oct. 6, 1945. She worked for Uniroyal Chemical Co. for 40 years, from 1945 to 1985, where she progressed from work at the bench to working in the registration group, overseeing work and reports to register the agricultural chemicals at the EPA in Washington and supplied information worldwide to register chemicals offshore. She also represented Uniroyal before the UN Code meeting of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and WHO (World Health Organization).
She and John lived in the Naugatuck and Cheshire, Conn., area for 50 years, before returning to Maine in 1995. She was a member of the American Chemical Society for 30 years, the American Association of University Women of Naugatuck for 35 years, holding several positions including president. She was a member of the Naugatuck Women’s Club and a board member of the Naugatuck Chapter of the American Red Cross. She was a 50-year member of the Naugatuck Congregational Church, where she served on many committees including Women’s Fellowship chairman. Since moving back to Maine she was a member of the United Methodist Church of Auburn and the Women’s Hospital Association at CMMC.
She enjoyed making sweaters, bibs and socks for veterans’ hospital patients and contributed yearly to the Christmas fairs at church. At age 83, she still enjoyed sewing, knitting, reading and playing cards.
She is survived by her sisters, Nancy A. Greer and husband, Edward, of Cape Elizabeth and Shirley J. Moyse of West Paris; her brother, Landon T. Hall and wife, Sandra, of Newport, N.C.; her sister-in-law, Nohemi Hall of Sierville, Tenn.; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
She was predeceased by her husband on Jan. 24, 2001; two sisters, Hazel Ruth Hall in 1936 and Doris A. Stevens; her brother, Carl E. Hall; her brother-in-law, Walter Moyse; nephews, Theodore and Timothy; and nieces, Laura Beth, Susan and Carol.
The family wishes to thank Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and the staff at Clover Manor, especially Margaret and Mona Lisa.
Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com
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