Evelyn M. Thompson, 85, of Damariscotta, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her beloved home on April 25. She was born in North Andover, Mass. on April 12, 1930, the youngest daughter of Alexander T. Mitchell and Dorothea B. Mitchell.
Evelyn grew up when there were still the big working dairy farms with draft and carriage horses. As a girl, Evelyn would ride her bike to the farms where she would help with odd jobs in exchange for riding privileges with favorite horses. She often talked about Carrie’s Woods, where she would go hunting fowl and small game with her father and Uncle David, or by herself with her beloved beagle Sally.
In her early 20s, Evelyn worked in the woolen mills of Lawrence. She met a woman one day who was a jewelry designer who encouraged her to continue her education. Evelyn then checked out books on silversmithing from the local library. She cut her bedroom bureau in half to make a workbench, refitted drawers with her father’s wood-working tools, and went to work self-learning to make her portfolio pieces. Evelyn applied for, and received, a tuition grant to attend The Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston. It was during her sophomore year that her future husband, Ernest T. Thompson Jr. walked into the classroom, took the empty jeweler’s bench next to her, and eventually placed an engagement ring on her hand made at that very bench.
Evelyn married Ernest (Tommy) on June 15, 1956 in North Andover. Soon they would purchase their home in Damariscotta and set about rebuilding the vintage 1760s house and barn, clearing the property to open out pastures so Evelyn could bring home her first baby, her Morgan colt Rob Roy. Ernest was teaching at The Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston, while Evelyn stayed in Maine happily ensconced at the farm continuing its rebuilding.
Evelyn was an early organic gardener. She learned as a little girl in the 1930-40s, working alongside her sister and her parents, to grow Victory Gardens in North Andover. Evelyn grew two massive gardens every year, supplying fresh produce and storage produce to feed her family throughout the winter, supplemented with range raised chickens, ducks and a steer.
Evelyn continued her silversmithing career as a jewelry designer alongside her husband Ernest. They opened their jewelry business, Thompson’s Studio, in 1961. They retired together in 1993, dissolved their business, closed the door, and went “Up Ta Camp” to have their gardens to share with the beaver, moose and the Canada geese.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved older sister, Marjorie M. Hoehn of North Andover, Mass.
Evelyn is survived by her husband of 59 years, Ernest (Tommy) Thompson; daughter, Heather D. Thompson Roberts and husband Kenneth R. Roberts; beloved granddaughter, Abigail D. H. Roberts, all of Damariscotta; step-granddaughters, Amber L. Young-Dalton of Sheepscot, and Heather V. Roberts of Wiscasset; niece, Karen Hoehn of Florida; nephews, Von K. Hoehn of North Andover, Mass., Fritz Hoehn of Plaistow, N.H., and Richard Hoehn of Methuen, Mass.; great-nieces, Andrea and Greta; and great-nephews, Fritz, Richard, Jon, Alexander, Patrick, and Eric.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Sat., June 27 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. She will be laid to rest following the service at the Chamberlain Cemetery in Round Pond.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (New England’s largest equine rescue and rehabilitation facility), PO Box 10, South Windham, ME 04082.
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, Damariscotta.
