Lois Althea Pike

Lubec, Eastport, and Gulfport, FL - Lois Parker Pike, 93, passed away in Robbinston on November 8, 2014. She was born in Lubec on June 9, 1921, the eldest daughter of Delora (Small) and Harrison D. Parker. The homestead on Pirates Creek where she was born still stands and was her retirement home in the summers until recently.

Lois graduated from Lubec High School in 1938. She worked in sardine factories mostly at Lawrence’s Factory in North Lubec for two years, saving for college. She started her post secondary education at Washington Normal School (now UMM) in 1940. She started her teaching career in 1942 in Cutler. Then she followed assignments in South Lubec, Washburn, Liberty and Oakland often teaching multiple grades. At one time she worked as a social welfare worker with one other woman covering all of Washington County including both Passamaquoddy Tribal Reservations.

Lois later finished her bachelor’s degree at UMO in 1952, and in the 1970’s earned her master’s degree at UMO. She married Lawrence D. Pike of Eastport and moved from Lubec to the Bronx where they worked alternate day and night shifts in NYC banks. They raised two sons, S. Dean and William L., in a three story apartment house they owned overlooking the Cross Bronx Expressway. In 1964, after lugging her sons all over the New York World’s Fair, she and Larry packed the family up in the station wagon and moved to Calais, Maine. She taught at Calais Memorial High School from 1964-1981 . She was very active in school affairs and was on the team that started planning and construction of the current Calais High School on River Road. During those years she put many miles on family vehicles running all over the state supporting her sons’ and their classmates’ academic and athletic activities.

Her greatest joys in life from retirement until her passing were her family, especially grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the personal stories of the successes of her former students. She could not go anywhere in Washington County without encountering former fellow teachers or students.

During retirement she and Larry resided in St Cloud Florida each winter. After Larry’s death in 1985 she purchased a small bungalow in Gulfport, FL where she flourished in the Catholic Church, senior citizen volunteers, and voluntarily tutoring in the public elementary schools. She loved Gulfport and did not return to Washington County as a full time resident until the last two years of her life to be near her friends and relatives. She was issued a new driver’s license just before her 93rd birthday and loved the independence that it brought to her.

She is survived by her sons, S. Dean Pike and partner Betty Foote, and William L. Pike; former daughter-in-law Ann Skriletz; Grandchildren, C. Ross Pike and his wife Sophie, and Elissa Pike English; Great-grandchildren, Lucie A. Pike and Kenzee S. English; one sister Anita and her husband William Dobbs; nephews and nieces Marty Mahar, Barry and his wife Bobbi Mahar, Carol Mahar, Marilyn Mahar, Bill Jr. and his wife Lisa Dobbs, Amanda and her husband Dr. Peter Kasyjanski , and Karl Turner; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, brother Bernard Parker, sisters Phyllis and her husband Bernard McMahon, and Margaret and her husband Phillip Mahar, niece Janice McMahon McNeilly, and nephews Dale McMahon and Jimmy Turner.

Visiting hours will be held 11:30 to 1:30 Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Mays Funeral Home – Flagg Chapel, 72 High St., Eastport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Rob Lupo 2 p.m. Saturday at St Joseph’s R.C. Church, Eastport. At her request she will then be cremated and at a private ceremony her ashes be placed in family plot in Eastport beside her husband Lawrence, and infant grandson Patrick Ryan Pike. Donations can be made to her favorite places the Senior Citizens Centers of Eastport and Gulfport FL as well as Senior Meals program in Lubec.