Florene Muriel (Cotes) Black, 89, died October 7, 2011 at an Ellsworth healthcare facility, with her loving family by her side. She was born September 28, 1922 in Dixfield, ME, the daughter of Earl and Flossie (Chase) Cotes.
Florene grew up in Dixfield and Rumford and graduated from high school in Kittery. She graduated from Traipe Academy with a business degree and then went to South Portland Ship Yard to work as a welder, where she met the love of her life, Lewis E. Black from Cape Rosier. They married and had five children; Alfred, Geraldine, Arnold , Edward and Carol. She also worked at Callahan Mine Cape Rosier and Kerr American Mine, Blue Hill as a financial administrator. Florene volunteered as a teachers aid at Brooksville Elementary School for many years. She volunteered at Blue Hill Hospital and was one of the founder of Meals for Me in Brooksville. She made hundreds of pairs of socks for Equadorian children. Florene was a 50 year plus member of the Rosier Grange, Cape Rosier and the Hancock Pomona Grange #13. Florene has touched the lives of many from her volunteer services and her professional life. She was an avid square dancer and round dancer. She loved to cook, sew, knit and do challenging projects. She enjoyed country and western music and spent many hours being involved. Florene enjoyed many hours of music with Wade Dow and friends at the Senior Center in Bucksport on Sunday afternoons.
She is survived by daughters; Geraldine Rackliff of Bucksport, Carol Allen and Ricker Parsons of Surry and son, Edward Black and Anne of Cape Rosier. Grandchildren; Cheryl Rackliff of Durham, Michael Rackliff of Surry, Christopher and Megan Black of Brewer, Lisa Black and Ben Priest of New York, Karla Black and John Salomao of Richmond. Tony and Troy Staples of Penobscot, Teri and Michael Rebaska of Arizona and Tami McGuan and Greg of Colorado. Ten great-grandchildren. Florene was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Orland Cotes, her husband Lewis, her sons, Alfred and Arnold.
Friends are invited to call 5:00-7:00PM, Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Jordan-Fernald, 141 South Street, Blue Hill, where funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 12 at 1:00PM. Interment will be Evergreen Cemetery, Cape Rosier. There will be a reception following the service at the Brooksville Town Hall.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Florene’s memory may be made to the Brooksville Meals Program, c/o Audrey Peasley, 10 Ferry Road, Brooksville, ME 04617.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com