Doris Gail Robinson, 70, of Jefferson, died Sept. 20 at Augusta Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Augusta after a long illness. She was born in Augusta on Sept. 13, 1946, the daughter of Clinton Cunningham and Helen (James) Cunningham. Gail grew up in Chelsea and was raised by her grandparents, Leland James and Doris James. She grew up with her many aunts and uncles who she viewed and treated as her brothers and sisters. Gail went to grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse in Chelsea. She attended Cony High School for a while and graduated from Medomak Valley High School in 1976.
In the 80s, Gail completed training at Kennebec Valley Medical Center for work as a non-invasive laboratory technician. She worked there for many years in that capacity. She also provided home healthcare for a time. These jobs were a great fit for Gail, given her compassion and desire to help and care for others. She was also a spiritual person and taught Sunday school when her children were little.
Gail was a very giving and supportive person, and family and friends were extremely important to her. She was very creative and shared her love of crafts by crocheting and making lots of baby blankets to give to others. She especially enjoyed home decorating and helped a lot of friends and families create warm and inviting spaces within their own homes for their families to enjoy. Gail spent a lot of time with her daughter, Laurie, helping her do projects in and around Laurie’s home.
Gail loved children and was very close to her grandsons, Brooks and Brock. She was also grandma to their friends and enjoyed all of them immensely. She went on every field trip her grandsons had when they were in school. In their early years, she would pick them up from daycare and spend time with them. They spent lots of time together at the beach at Damariscotta Lake, as well as trips to the ocean. Gail took her role as a grandma very seriously, including being grandma to Laurie’s cats.
Gail was involved in her community and was a lifetime member of the Whitefield Lions Club. She was very friendly and outgoing. She made friends wherever she went, even making friends with people while waiting in line at the store. She had a great sense of humor and loved to have fun and do silly things like drive to Connecticut for pizza, a favorite, and visit her friend Liz or drive to Massachusetts just to go to Trader Joe’s.
Gail loved to play sports, and they had many family baseball games over the years. Even when her children were grown adults, Gail liked sports so much so that she would play softball with her daughter, Tammy, when they were short on people for Tammy’s work team. She was just supposed to be watching, but when they needed someone, she stepped up to the plate. Gail was also a Patriots fan and watched every game with Laurie and the cats.
Gail loved gardening and had beautiful gardens; peonies were her favorite. She enjoyed cooking, and her favorite dishes to prepare were lasagna and potato salad which everyone loved. She hosted a family Christmas Eve gathering every year for all that wanted to come. It included family members and friends in the community. Gail absolutely loved Elvis and even had a room in the house that was totally Elvis for many years.
Gail was predeceased by her father, Clinton Cunningham; mother, Helen Cunningham Robichaud; stepfather, Roland J. Robichaud; and brother, Glenn Robichaud.
Surviving is her longtime companion, Prescott Lord; daughters, Laurie Robinson, and Tamara Blackler and husband Mark Blackler, both of Jefferson; brother, Bryan Robichaud of South Bend, Ind.; sisters, Earlene Jeane of Windsor, and Deana Waterman of Augusta; grandchildren, Brooks Blackler, and Brock Blackler and companion Monica Belanger and their dog Brandy; and aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews that she adored. Gail was the favorite aunt of many of her nieces and nephews, and she was close to many of them.
There are no public visiting hours planned. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Sat., Oct. 22 at the St. Mark’s Church/Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 209 Eastern Ave., Augusta.
Memorial donations are preferred to Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330; or Travis Mills Foundation, 89 Water St., Hallowell, ME 04347.
Condolences, photos, and stories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Rd., Rt. 32, Windsor.
