Thereas Osier Richards, 93, resident of Round Pond for over 70 years, passed away Aug. 5 at the Gregory Wing, St. Andrew’s Village in Boothbay Harbor. She was born in Pemaquid on Nov. 20, 1919, the daughter of Ernest Osier and Josephine Geyer Osier Miller.
She spent her early life in South Bristol and Pemaquid, and graduated from Bristol High School in the class of 1937, the class that started the “Bristolite” school yearbook. On June 3, 1939 she married Walter Morton Richards of Round Pond, where the couple spent over 50 years together.
She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Round Pond, the Round Pond Rebekahs, and the Seaside Grange of Bristol. She was a homemaker, well known for her fruit pies, Indian pudding, and crocheted afghans. Thereas also served as housekeeper/caretaker for many in town, and drove a school bus for the town of Bristol for a several years. She also worked at the Medomak Canning Company, Gays Grocery Store, and Sylvania in Waldoboro. Thereas especially loved her position as town clerk of Bristol for a number of years prior to her retirement.
She was predeceased by her husband who died on June 11, 1995.
She leaves sons, Ernest Emery Richards and wife Elizabeth of Jefferson, and James Gerald Richards and wife Joan of Lancaster, Mass.; brother, Edwin Miller and wife Marion of Bristol; sister, Sandra Miller Lane and husband Russell of Bristol; daughter-in-law, Johnna Jackson and husband Don of Squaw Valley, Cal.; grandchildren, Kimberly Adkins, Jason Jackson and wife Wendy all of Bend, Ore., Joel Richards and wife Allison of Amesbury, Mass., Jared Richards and wife Alison of Somersworth, N.H., Liza Moraitis and husband Yannie of Chicago, Ill., Galen Richards and wife Shannon of South Portland, Ariel Gosling and husband Nick of San Antonio, Tex., and Caleb Richards and fiancée Emma Mueller of Augusta; 14 great-grandchildren; two nephews; three nieces; several great-nephews and nieces; as well as many cousins and friends.
A small graveside service for family and friends will take place at the Chamberlain Cemetery in Round Pond, where she will be laid to rest with her husband at 11 a.m., Thurs., Aug. 8. There will be a memorial service in her honor at the Round Pond United Methodist Church at 2 p.m., Sat., Aug. 10.
Donations in her memory may be made to the United Methodist Church of Round Pond, PO Box 92, Round Pond, ME 04564.
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.
