Dorothy Mary Rowe

Lincoln - Dorothy Mary (Caron) Rowe, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 18, 2022. Born to Cecile Plourde and Dennis Caron on January 22, 1928, Dorothy lived a full and productive life, and was loved by all who met her. Born in Millinocket, Maine, Dorothy loved dancing to her father’s fiddle playing as a child. She attended Sterns High School in Millinocket, then South Portland High School when her mother and stepfather, Joseph Simon, moved to South Portland in 1943. Following high school, Dorothy completed one year of business school, then started her career working at iconic B&M Baked Beans in Portland, Maine. After that, she found a position as a telephone operator, a job she really enjoyed. Dorothy met her husband, William, in Portland and after a two-year courtship, they married and moved to Greene where Bill had purchased a farm. Shortly after, daughter Catherine was born. For twenty-two years, they worked hard raising roaster chickens for Hillcrest Poultry. When that finished, they cleaned out the barn and opened the first BYOB dance hall in a 100-mile radius called “The Chicken Coop.” There they made many friends and enjoyed years of having fun. While married, Dorothy worked seasonally at a local apple orchard during apple picking season. She took a position working for the St. Jude campaign, then as a State of Maine Committee Clerk for several years. Dorothy was very active in politics, assisting at the polls during election time. She was a member of the local Greene Women’s Group, and eventually retired from a position at the Lewiston Employment Office. Bill was affiliated with the Elks for many years, and they attended many outings and conventions from Maine to Hawaii. Dorothy and Bill also owned property in St. Petersburg and Leesburg, Florida. After his passing in 1988, she spent 25 years with her partner, Gerald Guenther, of Durham, Maine, traveling between Maine in the summer and Florida in the winter. Dorothy was a very active member of the VFW, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Moose Lodge. Some of Dorothy’s hobbies included playing cribbage, cards, listening to music, and dancing. She also loved taking a drive to look at real estate, spending many afternoons “kicking foundations” with Catherine. She was a very fun-loving person and enjoyed entertaining and get togethers. For the past several years, Dorothy lived with Catherine and husband, Brian Hamor, between Boynton Beach, Florida, and most recently on Mattanawcook Pond in Lincoln, Maine. Brian and Dorothy went to bingo every Monday and Friday night, and she enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino. She loved to sit in her chair by the window, reading her books and watching loons on the lake. She became an avid bird watcher, feeding the blue jays and squirrels each day, which brought her much happiness. Dorothy was predeceased by her mother, Cecile Simon; father, Dennis Caron; stepfather, Joseph Simon; and brothers, Martin and Neil Caron. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Rowe, her son-in-law, Brian Hamor; granddaughter, Beth Geary and her husband John and daughter, Maryn of Wells; stepbrother, John Simon and wife Noreen of Hampden; stepbrothers, Robert Caron and wife Carmen of Naples, Richard Caron and wife Rosalie of Leeds; stepsister, Linda Caron Harps and husband Rheal of Monmouth; and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life will be held at Marco’s Italian Restaurant in Lewiston, Maine on Saturday, October 22nd from 12:00 to 3 p.m. For local Lincoln friends, there will be a second celebration at Our Heros Military Museum, 55 W. Broadway, Lincoln, Maine, on Sunday, October 23rd, also from 12:00 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Heros Military Museum, Attn: Catherine Rowe, 373 White Point Estates Road, Lincoln, ME 04457.