Doris Pearson Drum died in her sleep on Jan. 12 at the age of 102.
She was a longtime resident of Manchester, and at the time of her death lived at Montello Heights in Lewiston.
She was born July 26, 1904, in Houlton, the daughter of Murray Theodore Pearson and Clara Small Pearson. She was a 10th generation descendent of Edward Small who settled in the Kittery area of Maine in 1632. She was a fourth generation descendant of Sarah Small who lived in Bowdoinham and died at the age of 104.
In her early years, Doris was educated in Houlton schools, where she graduated from elementary school in 1918 and Houlton High School in 1922. She attended Farmington Normal School for one year, taught at a rural school in Mars Hill for one year, and then moved to Detroit in 1924 where she completed her teacher training at Detroit Teachers College, now Wayne State University.
She taught in schools in the Detroit area throughout the 1920’s and married Kenneth Leonard Drum on June 29, 1929. The Drums lived in Wyandotte, Mich. during the Depression and WWII. They moved to Augusta in 1946 and Manchester in 1950.
In 1955, Doris became a teacher at the Manchester Elementary School where she taught until her retirement in 1968.
During her early retirement she volunteered in the school library, and for 23 years spent the winter months at Jupiter Park in Jupiter, Fla. with her husband Kenneth, and her sister Delma Lathe Schmidt of Hallowell and her husband Frank Lathe.
Doris was a member of the Maine Retired Teachers Association and the Manchester Extension. She was also active in many Manchester community activities.
Her husband Kenneth predeceased her in 1988, as well as her daughter, Joanne Drum Norris in 1988.
She is survived by her children, Nancy Meldrum of Lewiston, Betty Coykendall of Unionville, Conn., and James Drum of Damariscotta; grandchildren, Lori Dyer of Turner, Julie Hayes of New Gloucester, Elsa Parson of Harker Heights, Tex., John Coykendall of Westport, Conn., and Peter Drum of Damariscotta; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Dyer, Jennifer Dyer, Benton Hayes, Connor Parson, and Jake Coykendall; sister, Delma Lathe Schmidt of Hallowell; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation 4-7, Wed., Jan. 17 at Fortin Group Funeral Home, 217 Turner St., Auburn.
Burial at Manchester Forks Cemetery in the spring.
In lieu of flowers donations can be directed in her memory to the Montello Heights Residents Activity Fund, 550 College St., Lewiston, ME 04240.
The family would appreciate receiving written remembrances from her many school students at www.drum@tidewater.net. A service of The Fortin Group Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Auburn, 207-783-8545 www.thefortingroup.com.
