Myrna J. Bates

Myrna Joyce Bates 88, passed away April 23, 2023, after a lengthy battle with dementia. Myrna was born at home in Machias to Alvah and Ethel (Dudley) Randall. Myrna graduated as the Valedictorian from Machias High School in 1952; and furthered her academic education by attending Washington Teachers College, receiving her BS degree in 1956, and a Master of Education degree from the University of Maine at Orono in 1966.  Myrna enriched her academic studies by taking courses, seminars, and workshops throughout her career.

Upon graduating from Washington Teachers College, Myrna married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Hubert Bates, and had a daughter, Allison Rebecca who died at the age of seven. After this tragedy, Myrna became career oriented and taught wherever her husband’s banking career led him. Myrna taught American and Maine history in Augusta, Jonesport, and Belfast, and spent the last thirty years of her teaching career in Orono. During her years as a dedicated teacher, she was a finalist for the State of Maine Teacher of the year.

Myrna belonged to several professional organizations including the National Education Association, Maine Education Association, and Orono Education Association. When she retired, she joined the retired affiliates of these organizations. Myrna was also an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international women’s education organization.

Myrna thoroughly enjoyed traveling; she and her husband traveled extensively throughout the continental United States as well as Alaska and Hawaii.  They also traveled abroad seeing France, Belgium, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Azores.  She was a voracious reader of biographies, historical novels, and works about Maine history. Myrna was a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox and made many trips to Fenway. She could also be found at UMO watching a hockey game or cheering for the Patriots or Celtics.

Myrna was a very active retiree; she did extensive family genealogy research and amassed marketable postcards, stamps, glassware, doll, and Hummel collections, as well as continuing to travel and attend numerous concerts and plays performed at the Maine Center for the Arts.

In addition to her parents, Myrna was predeceased by her husband, Ralph, their daughter, Allison Rebecca, and her devoted sister, Beverly Randall. She is survived by her great-niece Jessica Oakes and several cousins including Ruth and her husband Rick Chaffey who became her caregivers in later years.