Avis Coolidge, 86

Avis Coolidge

CASCO — Avis Coolidge, 86, of Oxford, died early Thursday morning, Feb. 1, 2018 at Country Village Assisted Living in Casco.

She was born on July 23, 1931 on the family farm on Cushman Hill in Bryant Pond to George and Lena Cushman. Avis was the youngest of eight children. She graduated from Woodstock High School.

 Avis met Stan Coolidge of Bethel, and they were married June 7, 1952 in the Grove at Green Pond in Oxford. They moved their family to Perkins Ridge in Auburn in 1958 and happily lived there for 29 years.

Avis enjoyed the shores of Ole’ Green Pond for 84 years. In 1987, she and her beloved husband built a log cabin and became year-round residents. The beach has been a gathering point for family and friends and Avis happily presided over all the Green Pond fun reminding generations of badminton rules and swimming safety, to name a few.

 Avis loved all sports and was a high school basketball star. Avis played basketball with her friend, June, who later married her brother, Irving. In the early 1960s, Avis was a ground-breaking horseshoe pitcher and was denied entry to numerous horseshoe tournaments because the men knew they were going to get beat. She threw shoes across the state and wowed all she played against. She enjoyed cards and was an avid cribbage player. She taught cribbage to many people and most recently, friends at Country Village Assisted Living. She and Stan enjoyed concerts, dancing — including the waltz, polka and jitterbug — and traveling cross-country on their Goldwing motorcycle. They spent many winters in Florida and Maui. 

She worked as a crew boss at Wallingford’s Orchards and as a cashier at Woolworth’s, Lost Valley Ski Area and Shop ’n Save.

Avis happily attended her grandchildren’s activities and was proud of their accomplishments. She was loved by her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her extended family of loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Stanley Coolidge; her loving parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Avis is survived by her daughters, Carol Perkins of Rangeley, Terri Coolidge of Oxford, Buster Marin of Auburn and Tammy Levasseur of Jupiter, Fla.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Online condolences and tributes may be shared at www.chandlerfunerals.com

There was a casual Celebration of Life on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018 at DaVinci’s Eatery, 150 Mill Street, Lewiston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Resident Activity Fund at Country Village Assisted Living, P.O. Box 600, Casco, ME 04015. Interment will be in the spring at the Riverside Cemetery in Bethel.

Arrangements are in the care of the Chandler Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 45 Main Street, South Paris.