Doris Daisy Bedford, 93, passed away on the morning of May 28, at Cove’s Edge Nursing Home in Damariscotta. She was born on June 23, 1922 in West Orange, N.J., one of six children to Stanley E. Bedford and Daisy (High) Bedford. She graduated from West Orange High School in West Orange, N.J.
During WWII, Doris assisted in sewing flags for Annin Flag Company where her father was an engineer. She also volunteered for the American Red Cross. Her career as a bookkeeper spanned 45 years of service with Public Service Coordinated Transport, Newark, N.J. and N.J. Transit Bus Operations. She retired in 1987.
Doris was a devoted daughter to her parents, caring for both mother and father in West Orange, N.J. until their deaths. Her pride and joy was a pedigree Schnauzer named “Randy.” She enjoyed gardening, and probably had the biggest garden on Belle Terre Road. A favorite hobby was knitting afghans for members of the family.
It was enjoyable to hear Doris reminisce about her vacations along the east coast and especially to Florida, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada and most of all England. Long Beach Island, N.J., was a particular family favorite in earlier years.
Doris was a longtime member of the Pleasantdale Presbyterian Church, West Orange, N.J., and was honored for attending services for over 50 years.
In time, Doris and her sister, Violet Gilman, moved to Maine to be with Violet’s daughter, Bobby, who became caregiver to both. Doris would once again be found tending her garden on her deck at Schooner Cove in Damariscotta.
A tradition of Doris’s, was to have neighbors at Schooner Cove visit her apartment during the Christmas holiday to see her Christmas village of tiny English cottages and horse and carriages that she collected over the years. The village was set on a “blanket” of snow on her dining room table including hotels, cottages, taverns, churches, ice skaters and other assorted villagers. Some of the pieces were set upon “mountains” of snow with Santa Claus skimming the treetops with his reindeer.
Doris was predeceased by her sisters and brother-in-law, Lorraine and George Wanner, Muriel VanCleaf, and Violet Gilman; brothers and their wives, Frederick and Alice Bedford and David and Roma Bedford.
She also leaves nieces, nephews and their families, Gail and Bob Drake of Palm City, Fla., Joyce and Henry Heunnemann of Sunset Beach, N.C., Fred and Diane Gilman of Clarksville, Tenn., Barbara and Glenn Riker of Chamberlain, Rick and Karen Bedford of Vero Beach, Fla., Ellen Ross of Vero Beach, Fla.; as well as numerous relatives in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arizona.
A service will be held at 11 a.m., Fri., June 3 at Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover, N.J.
Should friends desire, flowers may be sent to Restland Memorial Park, or a donation may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
