Blanche W. Taylor

AUGUSTA — Blanche “Bee” Woodfall Taylor, 90, passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at Glenridge Living Center in Augusta.

Bee was born July 29, 1921 in Saugus, Mass., the daughter of Ralph and Elva (Annis) Woodfall. While growing up, she spent many summers in Maine at the family camp on Long Lake in Bridgton.

Bee graduated from Saugus High School and went on to Bates College in Lewiston, where she received her associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. She went to Forsythe Dental School in Massachusetts and received her degree in Dental Hygiene.

Bee married the love of her life, Frederick “Craig” Taylor in 1942, and gave birth to her first son, Richard in 1944. News of the birth reached Craig when his best friend, Dave Twiss, located him in his platoon deep in war-torn Europe. The family was reunited after the war and made their home in Saugus, Mass., where second son, Alan, was born in 1947 and third son, Bradford, in 1958. In 1960, they moved to Topsfield, Mass. and lived there until 1965. Bee and Craig were avid square dancers during this time. In 1955, Bee and Craig bought land in Bridgton, built and opened Taylor Town Housekeeping Cottages, living in Bridgton full time, successfully running the business together for 30 years until Craig’s death in 1985.

After that, Bee spent winters in Florida with her sister, Phyllis, and summered in China. She loved to line dance and taught it for many years at the Muskie Center in Waterville.

She is survived by her sister, Phyllis of Zephyrhills, Fla.; three sons, Richard of Albion, Alan of Clifton Park, N.Y. and Brad of China; four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, a niece and three nephews.

At Bee’s request, there will be no service. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Bee had said many times, “When I’m gone, if there’s any money left in my checkbook, have a party!” Her beautiful smile and great sense of humor will be sorely missed by all that knew her.