Diane L. Fox

Diane Louise Fox, 71, passed away on May 13, 2024, in Machias, Maine, after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer. She was a beloved mother, partner, sister, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Diane was born on December 5, 1952, in Calais, Maine, where she spent her formative years and established relationships that lasted her lifetime. Graduating from Calais Memorial High School in 1971, she then moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where she lived and worked for several years before returning to Calais.

Back in her hometown, she started a clothing and gift shop, Bag End Imports, first in her new home on Hardscrabble Road, and then on Main Street in Calais, where her shop was a fixture for over 30 years. Throughout her career as a shop owner, she was known for the quality of her fashions and her support of other Main Street businesses.

Diane was devoted to her family. She loved spending time with her three sons, Lucas Pola, Matthew Gagner, and Michael Gagner, and her granddaughter, Autumn Gagner. She was always there to offer guidance, support, and encouragement to them, no matter what challenges they faced. She was also a steadfast friend, always eager to give support and encouragement to others. She was an active member of her community, supporting the city of Calais and serving on the Calais School Board.

In the early 1990s, Diane and her partner Vaughn Pottle built a winter home in Englewood, Florida, where they joined an active community of eastern Maine snowbirds. There she worked in the Boca Grande resort area, enjoyed frequent trips to the Gulf beaches, and could often be found playing the slots at the Elks and Moose clubs.

Diane was an avid gardener, specializing in flowers, herbs, and vegetables, and an accomplished craftsperson, sewing beautiful quilts, working the potter’s wheel, and painting in watercolors. She traveled extensively, visiting family in Germany, going on cruises, and making regular visits to casinos in Connecticut, Atlantic City, and Las Vegas.

Her dogs Zeke, Maggie, Daisy, and Honey were her faithful companions.

Diane is survived by her life partner, Vaughn Pottle; her sons, Lucas Pola, Matthew Gagner, and Michael Gagner; her granddaughter, Autumn Gagner; and her brother, Ken Fox. She was predeceased by her father, Howard Herbert Fox; her mother, Erna Lisa Fox; her paternal grandparents, Frank and Pamela Fox; and her maternal grandparents, Ernst and Louise Storck. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.

A special thanks to the staff at the Marshall Healthcare Facility in Machias for their kindness and caring support. A celebration of Diane’s life will be held for family and friends at Pottle’s Potato House on Shattuck Road in Red Beach on July 20, 2024, at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, https://www.moffitt.org/give/ways-to-give/ . Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home.