Florence Irene Dowling, 83, beloved wife of the late James Dowling, both of Whitefield, passed away peacefully July 18 at MaineGeneral in Augusta with her family by her side. She was born in Alna on Oct. 29, 1932 and attended a one-room school house in Edgecomb where she lived for all of her younger years.
She married Millard Spinney and they had one child. She then met her husband James Dowling in Wiscasset where they married and lived for several years before moving to Whitefield where they settled and raised their very large family. They were married for 56 years or as mom would say forever. Family was their one true love.
Florence, or Flossy as many called her, was a beautiful artist, a woman who loved making stuffed bears and dolls of all sorts. She enjoyed making them and giving them away to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In her early years she loved playing her guitar and singing, mostly classic older country, she loved shooting her gun, she was often called Annie Oakley, she never missed her mark. In her younger years she was an avid horseback rider, generally riding with her late husband on trails or just through the woods. She loved to read and was a great cook. Her favorite times were spent with family; she always made everyone feel welcome. Her second family was her church family; she was a devout Christian and looked forward to spending her Sundays with her favorite pastor, Lester Dancer.
Florence is predeceased by mother, Adela James; father, Lloyd James; husband, James Dowling; uncle, Joseph Hogan and wife Marjorie Hogan.
She is survived by sister, Louise Bougie and husband Joseph Bougie of Sanford; sons, Millard Spinney and wife Jeanne Spinney of Alaska, James Dowling Jr. and wife Cathy Dowling of Dresden, and Jonathan Dowling of Whitefield; daughters, Lori Allen and husband Jon Allen of Whitefield, Pamela Perry and husband Burt Perry of Whitefield, and Paula Engstrom and husband Kraig Engstrom of Whitefield. Florence had many passions but nothing touched her heart more than her six children, 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Plans are being made for a memorial service for family and close friends, her final resting place will be the Alna Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the MaineGeneral’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC), 361 Old Belgrade Rd., Augusta, ME 04330.
