WEST BALDWIN- Dorothy Virginia Estes, 82, of West Baldwin, ME left us to join the Lord in Heaven on May 2nd, 2020. She was born on November 25th, 1937 in Cornish, Maine to Marie French and Arthur Martin. After her father passed away, she was raised by Blanche (fondly known as “Auntie”) and Pat Smith. She attended and graduated from Cornish School in 1956. She was an all-star basketball player, member of the Glee club, chorus, drama club, and served as the yearbook editor. She graduated with honors and received a scholarship to the Gorham Teachers College. As a freshman, she met the love of her life, Gary Estes. He said she was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen and would ride his Harley on her street hoping she would come out to talk to him. She did go out to talk with him and their beautiful love story began. They married on July 14th, 1956 and went on to raise their four children. Dorothy and her beloved husband joined the Hilltop Baptist church in the 1970’s and loved serving their community and spending time with their church family.
Dorothy had a strong work ethic and was employed as a secretary for Union 9, lunch lady at the Cornish Elementary, office secretary and teacher’s aide at Sacopee Valley Highschool. She later went on to work as a Secretary for Dr. Birch in Portland, ME until his retirement. She became a CNA to work with the elderly in home care. She worked as a receptionist at Sacopee Valley Health Center, and lastly as a secretary in Housekeeping alongside her daughters at Nordic Village for 10 years until her retirement.
Dorothy loved people and they loved her. She saw the beauty in everyone and everything. She loved a great conversation, a good book, being outdoors, animals, going out to eat, and, most of all, spending time with her family. She was a strong woman, smiling through all of life’s struggles while offering a helping hand to others. She had a way of making you feel genuinely cared for and was always a breath of fresh air to be around. She embodied all that is good in this world: Kindness, humor, grace, love, and a genuine concerning care for all.
She will be dearly missed by her family- and all that knew her- forever and always.
She is survived by her loving husband, Gary, of 64 years, her four children Christopher Estes and his wife, Cindy; Jane Miller and husband Darrin; Beth Towle and her husband Curt; Mark Estes and his wife Lucy; 16 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Martin and Marie French, Blanche and Pat Smith, and her grandson, Christopher Estes.
A graveside service will be held at a later date when it is safer for more people to gather.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com
****WEST BALDWIN- a graveside service for Dorothy V. Estes, 82, who passed away on May 2, 2020, will be held on Tuesday June 15 at 2 PM at Riverside Cemetery in Cornish.
Arrangements are with Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com