PORTER- Margaret Louise Freese Cadwallader Barnes Heath, 93, of Porter, Maine went home to be with the Lord on February 7, 2026. She was blessed to have passed peacefully at home surrounded by family. Margaret was born on March 25, 1932, in Lafayette, Ohio the first daughter of Orlin F. and Edna Mabry Freese.
Margaret was a woman who wore many hats. For many years she worked as Doctor Barnes' assistant. She helped many patients solve problems and provided guidance in seeking the additional support they needed. Although she never pursued a degree in education, she was a lifelong learner and teacher. She volunteered in the local elementary school classrooms and taught a variety of adult education classes. She strived to help teach many children; her siblings, her own and the community children. Her role as a mother went far beyond raising her own children. Many folks respected her words of wisdom and encouragement. Besides raising 6 children she was a doctor, nurse, accountant, farmer and hunter. She was a hard worker and often said she would rather wear out than rust out. In her "free" time she enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting, baking and working tirelessly on the genealogy of family and friends. Upon retirement, she painted over 200 pictures along with writing and publishing 5 books.
She is predeceased by her parents, her son John Ellis Barnes, her husbands Richard M. Cadwallader, Lowell E. Barnes, and Charles Heath, her brothers James E. Freese and Richard L. Freese, her sisters Evelyn Gregory and Jeannette Barkalow, her sister-in-law Shirley Freese, her brother-in-law Harry Stuplinski and her son-in-law Lucien Gosselin.
Left to cherish Margaret's memory are her sons William T. (Kris) Barnes and Lowell E. (Tiffiney) Barnes Jr, her 3 daughters Scotte E. (Rick) Barnes, Diane Barnes-Gosselin and Teresa (Robert) Barnes Sanborn, 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, a brother John O. Freese, sisters Ethel L. Stuplinski and Donna (Jerry) Snyder and sister-in-law Sue Ellen Freese.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring, date to be determined.
Arrangements are entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish.
www.mainefuneral.com