Shirley A. Dickson

Shirley Dickson of South Berwick, Maine passed away on Saturday, March 22 after a brief illness. She was born on October 11,1965. She was the daughter of Carol A. and Norman A. Boucher and was raised in North Berwick, Maine. Shirley was the devoted mother to Mikala Dickson of Augusta, Noah Dickson and his wife, Autumn, of Wells, and Jacob Dickson of South Berwick. This loss is immense to them because of the many roles she played in their lives. She considered being their mother the greatest achievement of her life.

Shirley attended Noble High School and the University of New England where she became an occupational therapist. As an OT, she served communities in Texas and California before returning to Maine. For the last three decades she worked at Sanford Schools where she loved and cared for her students and their families.

She is survived by her children, her father, Norman Boucher of Alfred, her sisters, Lynne Boston of Alfred, Brenda LaFrance and her husband Jim of Alfred, Belinda Jones of Springvale, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother, Carol A. Boucher.

Shirley was an avid reader and gardener. She was a shining example of a strong and independent woman who learned how to do her own repairs, traveled to Hawaii with her three children, and took them on annual week-long camping trips even when they were quite young. She lived her life in a way that she always moved forward in a confident, self-assured way.

Visiting hours will be held at Black Funeral Home in Springvale on Friday, March 28 from 2-4 and 5-7. A celebration of life will be held at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Sanford, Maine at 11:00 on Saturday, March 29. Shirley was an ardent supporter of her students of Sanford, many of whom attended the Special Olympics of Maine.

In honor of her memory, donations to the Sanford Special Olympics may be made out to the Sanford School Department and mailed to Stacey Bissell, 100 Alumni Blvd. Sanford, ME 04073. Please note in the memo, Sanford Special Olympics.