Catherine Jordan Walker passed away in Portland on Nov. 10 at the home of her daughter, where she had been residing for the past five years.
Born in 1910, she was the eldest of the four daughters of Frank and Helen Jordan of Christmas Cove. She graduated from Rockland High School and Shaw s Business College in Portland.
She began her business career with the National Cash Register Company. She married John Philip Sawyer of Westbrook in 1935, and they both worked for several years at the Limerick Yarn Mills where she was the office manager. After returning to South Bristol with her family in 1941, she was always active in town and church affairs. She served two terms as town tax collector, worked in the office at the Gamage Shipyard, and was the postmaster at the Christmas Cove summer post office for many years until it was closed, as well as clerking in the South Bristol post office. She also did secretarial and bookkeeping work out of her home.
Catherine was a member of the Union Church in South Bristol, a life member and past Worthy Matron of the Pagonia Chapter of the Eastern Star, a member of the Retired Postmasters Association, and of the South Bristol Historical Society. Her particular interests, besides her family, were genealogy, gardening, and braiding rugs, and she was an avid reader all her life. She especially enjoyed recalling the past history of the town of South Bristol while being interviewed by Ellen Vincent for her book, Down on the Island, Up on the Main.
She married Merle Walker in 1976, and together they enjoyed many winters traveling to the South and Southwest in their RV during the late 1970 s and 1980 s.
She was predeceased by her two husbands, John P. Sawyer in 1968, and Merle L. Walker in 1991; sisters, Helen Melaugh, Florence Brown, and Ethel Pushard; granddaughter, Kathryn Sheldon; and son-in-law, Jan K. Repass.
Surviving are her daughters, Ruth Klein and husband Bob of Albuquerque, N.M., and Helen Repass of Portland; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; and stepdaughters, Lavinia Walker of South Orange, N.J., and Maralee Rice and family of Ballston Lake, N.Y.
There will be a celebration of Catherine s life in the spring at the Union Church in South Bristol. Details will be announced at a later date.
The family suggests that gifts in memory of Catherine be sent to your local library toward the purchase of large print books, or to the VNA, Hospice Division, 50 Foden Dr., South Portland, ME 04106.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
