Winnifred R. (Reynolds) Ahlquist

Winnifred R. Ahlquist After celebrating her 88th birthday on Valentineâ€™s Day, February 14, one month later on March 14, Winnifred Adella Reynolds Norton Ahlquist passed away unexpectedly following a stroke. She lived life to the fullest and with a lifetime of good health was seen clearing ice from her driveway just the week before. â€œWinnie,â€ as she was fond of being called, was born in 1927, the eighth child of Fred and Inez (Hodgkins) Reynolds. Following the death of her mother when Winnie was only 3 years old she was raised by her older sisters in central Maine. She attended Maine schools and graduated from South Portland High School and the Golden School of Beauty Culture. She married Kenneth D. Norton on May 11, 1946 and they settled in South Portland where they raised their family of a son and two daughters. She was a homemaker while raising their children but also enjoyed being a hairdresser to many of her neighbors. She was devoted to her church, First Baptist Church in Portland and participated in Pioneer Girls and other activities. When her children were grown she worked at USF & G Insurance. Her beloved husband, Ken, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1979 at the age of 52. On June 6, 1987 she married Clarence M. Ahlquist, a family friend who had lost his wife, Arlene. She and Clarence were blessed with 25 years of marriage before his passing in December, 2013. Winnieâ€™s happiness came from family time, gardening, visiting with her many relatives, eating out and participating in activities with her church family, Grace Bible Church in Gorham. She loved the Lord and studying her Bible. She enjoyed being with her family, and particularly loved being with and watching children have fun playing. She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth; her husband, Clarence; sisters, Beatrice Gibbs Parker, Jennie Thompson, Elizabeth Sobey, Phyllis Ames and Esther Littlefield, and brothers, Millard Reynolds, Philip Reynolds, Evan Reynolds and Ivan Reynolds; and her sister-in-law Ruth E. Norton who lived with her for more than 50 years. She is survived by her loving children, Kathleen (David) Coffin of Westbrook; Kerry K. Norton of Scarborough; and Lynn (Kim) Oliver of Scarborough; grandchildren, Jeffrey Coffin of Buxton; Heather (Chris) Calvert of Lovell, Jessica Lee of Humble, Texas and Jordan (Erica) Lee of South Portland; her great-grandchildren, Trevor Coffin and Jeremy Coffin of Buxton, Jade Fox, Calvin Fox, Job Fox and Haden Fox of Lovell. Her step-children are Diane Ahlquist (Port St. Lucie, FL) and family, Russell and Nancy Ahlquist (Mesa, AZ) and family, Dale and Candace Ahlquist (W. Charlton, NY) and family, Ron and Sandy Ahlquist (Scarborough) and family, Bonnie and Lennie Fahnestock (Vineland, Ontario) and family and Carl and Judy Ahlquist (Scarborough) and family. Missing her too, are nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many good friends. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Grace Bible Church, Deering Road, Gorham on Monday, March 16 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Bob White officiating. Interment will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Grace Bible Church of Gorham, P.O. Box 698, Gorham, Maine 04038

Winnifred R. (Reynolds) Ahlquist

February 14, 1927 - March 14, 2015

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