Gayle Miller, 59

Gayle Miller, 59, of Bridgton, passed away on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, after a brave battle with cancer.

Gayle was born on Sept. 3, 1955, in Brockton, Mass., to Arthur and Beatrice Lessard. She graduated from Brockton High School and moved to Maine in the 1970s.

After working in Maine for some time, she graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Social Work, and continued in this field for nearly 15 years before finding her passion for massage and trigger point therapy. At that point, she completed programs at Pittsburgh School of Pain Management and the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts, where she later taught, while also acting as a massage therapist in the Bridgton region.

Gayle loved living in Maine, both for the ocean and the long drives on winding roads. She had many hobbies over the years, including restoring old furniture and gardening. She enjoyed playing card games — especially “hand and foot” — and knew the best way to end a summer day was with an ice cream cone. She always had a soft spot for animals and loved her pets fiercely.

Gayle wasn’t afraid to take big leaps in her life, such as moving to Pittsburgh for a year with a two-year-old to embark on a new career. In this new career, she enjoyed being able to ease her clients’ pain. Gayle greatly appreciated the supportive community she found in the First Congregational Church in Bridgton. Above all else, she loved her daughter Mindy.

Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Beatrice Lessard; and her sister, Donna Anderson. She is survived by her daughter, Malinda Miller of Bridgton; her brother-in-law, George Anderson and her niece, Sarah Anderson, both of Skowhegan; and extended family in Missouri, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, at the First Congregational Church, 33 South High Street in Bridgton. A reception will follow immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gayle’s name to either First Congregational Church, PO Box 243, Bridgton, ME 04009, or to eHope Foundation, 93 Brown Street, Westbrook, ME 04092. Arrangements are in the care of Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton.