WEST PARIS — Mildred Leora Austin Davis, 82, left this world on Saturday, April 13, 2013 after a valiant struggle to recover from open heart surgery.

She was born on July 7, 1930, in North Norway. She was the first born of Chester Alton and E. Arlene Whitman Austin.

On March 26, 1951, she married Arthur Francis Davis in a double wedding with Roger and Marion Leavitt.

She had two children, Gordon and Brenda. She moved to the farm just before Brenda's birth and was less than enthused to be moving out of town and would not have done so if she was not convinced it would be the best move for her children. As is often the case in life, she grew to love that old farm.

The greatest joy of her life was her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was the rock and the cornerstone of her family and would have walked through fire for any one of them. She was the best grandmother ever, shuttling the kids here and there and always welcoming them into her house anytime of the day and night. Christmas at Gramma's was a gala affair! She was the real deal, an old-fashioned homemaker straight out of the 50s. The second love in her life was her love of going out to eat and the societally that goes along with it. She was a friendly and familiar face at many local eateries.

She was a mother and a homemaker first and foremost and she worked at many various jobs over the years when she could fit it in with her family life. She did housekeeping at Crystal Lake Shores rental cabins on Saturday when her kids were small. She later ran a laundry out of her barn for Camp Ticawa in the summers. She picked and packed apples and later worked in the office at Paris Manufacturing when her children were older. She also worked at Cornwall's in Norway, making wood products. She was a dedicated and dependable worker no matter what she did.

Life changed for her yet again at the age of 48 when she suddenly found herself a widow. It was in picking up the pieces of her broken heart that she discovered her affinity for painting. She did many lovely pieces. She was also a fine knitter, making dozens of Christmas stockings, afghans, scarves and mittens. It was also at this time that she went back to work as a waitress, first at the Cracked Platter and finishing up her career at the Caswell House in Harrison. She loved to be around people. She finally hung up her waitress shoes at the age of 70.

Millie was a member of the United Parish Church of Harrison, where the pastor has been a faithful visitor and a great comfort to her over the past few months. She was also a member of the Rebekahs, VFW Auxiliary and the Red Hat Society. She was also a regular face at the Bridgton Community Center soup kitchen, the Bridgton Hospital coffee shop and The Golden Oldies. She regularly went to exercise class at Bridgton Town Hall until her health would no longer permit it. Many will remember seeing her walk around town daily until her knees gave out.

She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur, in 1979.

Besides her many friends, she is survived by Gordon and Brenda of Harrison; five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; three sisters, Natalie Damon and Sandra Breslin of Gray and Jeannine Paterson of Pearce, Ariz.

Online condolences maybe shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com. Funeral service were held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the United Parish, Congregational Church of Harrison-North Bridgton, Harrison, with interment following at Stuart's Corner Cemetery. Arrangements by Chandler Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to: The United Parish Church, P.O. Box 95, Harrison, ME.