Elsie Dyer

Black

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Elsie Dyer Black passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on November 10 at Springbrook Nursing Care Facility in Westbrook.

Daughter of Clifford M Dyer and Mary Alma Snow Dyer, Elsie was raised in Westbrook and was a graduate of Westbrook High School - class of 1953. Just after graduation, she married Howard G Black and settled down to married life. Three children later, their family was complete.

A move to Gorham in 1965 meant going from city life to farm life, raising animals and gardening, with lots of canning and freezing of home-grown food. Elsie took great pride in having her cellar shelves loaded with freshly filled mason jars and a well-stocked freezer ready every fall in preparation for the year ahead.

She was a woman of many talents but was happiest when she was sitting at a sewing machine. During the course of her lifetime, she worked as a seamstress for Boston Burial Case Company, Standard Linen Service, and Concepts In Comfort, but was most well known for her upholstery business, Black’s Upholstery. Her reputation for meticulous work kept her booked months in advance for many years.

When she decided to hang up her tack hammer at age 65, she went to work at the Christmas Tree Shoppe in South Portland, where she made many new friends with her quick wit and generous nature. She retired ten years later at the age of 75.

Elsie is predeceased by her parents, her husband Howard and youngest son Michael, her brothers Albert and Clifford and sister Anne. She is survived by her oldest son Mederick Black of Gorham, daughter Mary Kathryn Anderson of Limerick, stepdaughter Carol Black of Mountain City TN, along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held for family members at Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, PO Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098, or on their website at arlgp.org.