Mabel F. Raybine

Mabel F Raybine, 73, died September 4, 2020, at SMHC Medical Center, Biddeford, Maine, unexpectedly from complications of an auto immune disease.May was born July 27, 1947, in Sanford, Maine to Walter Henry Clark and Mabel F. Thompson. She married Jay Andrew Van Houten in 1964 and they purchased a family farmhouse in 1966, in Lebanon, ME, to raise their children. They separated, and then divorced in 1973. On December 6, 1975, May married Richard (Dick) Allen Raybine, her true love and soulmate.She began work at Davidson Rubber in Dover, NH, on May 13, 1966, and when the business closed, she was just shy of 40 years there. She then worked at Next Phase Medical Manufacturing, Rochester, NH, finally retiring in 2012. She was a supermom, putting in full days as a factory worker, then head chef, dishwasher, gardener, seamstress, and peacemaker. She enjoyed camping, playing cards, and attending sporting events with her family. In addition, she received her GED as part of the first graduating class of Nobel High School's adult education in 1984.In her midlife years, she and Dick golfed, traveled, and spoiled grandchildren. They vacationed and then wintered in Venice, FL, with plans to move there permanently, but Dick died in October 2014 of lung cancer, and May stayed in Maine to be with family. To relax she liked reading and watching sports on TV. In the last 6 years she most enjoyed her weekly trips with her sisters and kayaking with her sister Sue and dog Alfie. They kayaked every lake in York County, as well as paddling in Acadia NP and NH. Together they biked all 45 miles of carriage roads in Acadia NP, and climbed Cadillac Mtn, Mt. Chocorua, and at 70 yrs old reached the Knifes Edge on Mt. Katahdin.May was always quick to her feet, even after a long day at work, quietly making things easier for her family. Selfless. Quietly impressive. Patriotic. Stubborn. May will be lovingly remembered by all those who knew her for her open arms, sympathetic ear, warm hugs, beautiful smile, caring nature, apple pie, and swimming at the beach.May is survived by all her siblings: Paul Clark (wife Joy), twin sisters Jean Pillsbury and June Lauze, and Susanne Clark; her children Laurie (Van Houten) Comstock (husband Carlton (Sam)), and William Burton Van Houten (wife April), and stepdaughter Susan Raybine; 5 grandchildren Audra McClure, Julie Comstock, Kasey Van Houten, Emily Comstock, and David Raybine, as well as nine extended-family grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.May will be buried in a private ceremony at Southern Maine Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Springvale, Maine, September 21. Family and friends unable to attend due to COVID-19 are encouraged to attend an all-day celebration of life for May and Dick at the family home in Lebanon June 12, 2021.In lieu of flowers please donate on her behalf to: www.k9sforwarriors.org an organization that rescues and trains shelter dogs to be paired as Service Dogs for Warriors with service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and/or Military Sexual Trauma.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.