1924 – 2016

LEWISTON — Jayne Ethel Bickford of Lisbon Falls died March 12, 2016 at Marshwood Nursing Center in Lewiston. She had just celebrated her 92nd birthday on Feb. 29 as the oldest known living member of her families of origin.

Mrs. Bickford was born in Burlington, Vt., Feb. 29, 1924, the daughter of Edgar Clayton and Vina Lucretia (Farr) Harrington. She attended public schools in Burlington and Bradenton, Fla., graduating from Biltmore High School in 1941. She earned an associate degree from Northeastern University, Boston, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Southern Maine, Sept. 29, 1959. She married Carl A. Bickford, who died in 1990.

Mrs. Bickford retired from the Federal Government, BNAS in 1979, having worked largely in civilian personnel administration there and at Topsham AFS for many years. Following her retirement she taught in the Lisbon School System for seven years and then did substitute teaching until 1990. She also taught at Durham Elementary School for a year between the deactivation of Topsham AFS and being re-employed at BNAS.

She was a member of St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church, Lisbon Falls; the Mayflower Society; National Association of Retired Federal Employees; Maine Old Cemetery Association; Middletown Springs, Vt. Historical Society; Androscoggin Land Trust; Maine Historical Society; and the NEA and MTA and of the Burnt Meadow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She served as regent, vice regent, registrar, secretary, and chaplain of this chapter and chairman of several committees. In October, 2015, she received a certificate for 40 years of service to the National DAR. She also served for a number of years as president of the West Bowdoin Cemetery Association and was active in the long-time annual Bickford reunions, which no longer meet.

Mrs. Bickford was actively engaged in genealogical research for many years and compiled two published family genealogies: the Family of Willis Vernon Farr and Watkins, a Beginning Genealogy, as well as self printed family histories, including the Rugg Family who eventually settled in Fairfax, Vt. and work on her husband, Carl Bickford’s genealogy. She also compiled Early Bowdoin Maine Families, and some of their descendants (2002) and co-compiled with Charlene Bartlett a book of Bowdoin Cemetery Inscriptions (1993). She and Charlene started the Bowdoin Historical Society in 1972.

She was an animal lover, sharing her life with many devoted dogs throughout her life and telling their stories. Mrs. Bickford received compassionate care at Marshwood Center and was respected and appreciated for her intelligence and wit.

Jayne E. Bickford’s survivors are her stepson, Bruce Bickford and his wife, Rebecca; a grandniece, Ann McCauley; faithful friends, including Sharron Campbell and Sheila Gallagher; and maternal cousins, Jeanne Semonite, Donald A. Hemenway Jr., Alice Moody and Harriet H. Price.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com