GUILFORD- Viola Severance Mithee passed away February 23, 2008 at a Dover-Foxcroft nursing home, after a long illness. Viola was born January 19, 1925 in Milo, Maine - the eldest child of Lyman and Dorothy Foss Severance.

After graduation from Milo High School, she went to work at a hotel in Bar Harbor that later burned down. She returned to Milo and worked in the Ben Franklin and the yard good stores in Milo. She then took a job as a waitress at Packard's Sporting Camps in Willimantic where she met her future husband, Erwin Mithee.

Erwin and Viola were married in 1946. They had two children: Thomas, born in 1947 and Dorothy, born in 1948. In early 1947, Erwin had an accident while working in the logging industry. Because he was to be in the hospital for a long time, it was decided that Erwin and Viola should move in with his parents - Tom and Faye Mithee in North Guilford. They lived there the rest of their married life, raised their children in this home, and helped to run Mithee's Filling Station.

For several summers in the early years of their marriage, they lived at Katahdin Stream in Baxter State Park. Erwin was responsible for maintaining the roads in the park. It was a rustic lifestyle and wonderful time in their marriage. They both had a love of the outdoors and were able to instill this love in their children. They had a pet deer that they called "Bummer" because he bummed anything and everything from the campers. Viola ran a small store on the front porch. They made several life long friends while at Katahdin Stream. After Erwin's father passed away, they had to move back to North Guilford year round to take care of the home place.

Viola loved crafts and was always busy making something for family and friends or to sell. She never hesitated to try something new if it looked interesting. More often than not, the result would look just like the picture after the first attempt. She did cross stitch, embroidery, knit, crocheted, designed and hooked rugs with wool strips that she dyed herself, designed and made Barbie Doll clothes, made quilts - both patchwork and applique, did beading, and sewed Christmas stockings. She was also a professional flower arranger, amateur painter and collected stamps. Erwin often kidded that he couldn't get a zipper in a pair of pants fixed because she was too busy with her crafts.

Her love of flowers and flower arranging guided her to work in several flower shops starting with Annie's in Guilford and ending with Riverside Florist in Dover-Foxcroft. She also taught flower arranging classes at adult education in Guilford.

Viola is remembered fondly by many because of the patience she had. This is true of the women who were in her Girl Scout Troop, those who have enjoyed making their own flower arrangement because of her teachings, and those who have learned cross stitch or plastic embroidery or knitting or quilt making because she took the time to teach them how. She never made this learning tedious. She was fun and there was as much laughter as learning. Viola belonged to Carpo Club, Susie Carr Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Dawn of Hope Grange, American Legion Auxiliary, the Parents Association of the PCHS Band, and was a Girl Scout leader.

She and Erwin loved traveling - usually with their family. The first big trip Erwin, Viola, Tommy, Dotty, and Viola's parents went to Alaska the year before it became a state to visit her brother who was working in Anchorage. This was a six-week trip that also included going down the west coat of the United States and across the country including stops in Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, Illinois, Connecticut and Massachusetts. They also traveled to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Florida, and the White Mountains.

After Erwin passed away, Viola sold the house in North Guilford and moved to River Bend Apartments. She loved living at River Bend. Family and friends have many happy memories of spending time with Viola. Laughter is one of the first things that comes to mind to some people when thinking about Viola. There was always a twinkle in her eye. Everyone was always welcome at her home and it was full of fun and laughter.

Viola has been described as a short woman with the strength of a giant. This included her physical and emotional strength to be a caretaker to both her mother-in-law and her husband for many years. It also includes her strength of mind as she had her own opinions of things and stuck by them. One was never unsure of what she would be thinking. Viola was once described as the most practical person that this person had ever met. Handwriting always comes to mind when thinking of Viola. The Severances are noted for having bad writing but Viola had developed this to an art form. It would often take days to decipher a letter or note that she had written.

She was predeceased by her husband to whom she was married more than 50 years, her parents, her mother and father-in-law, her brother Carl, her sister-in-law Marlene Severance, her son-in-law Tom Jones, and her step grandson Thomas Jones, Jr.

She is survived by her brothers, Minard of Milo and Wilbur and his wife Cathy of Spooner, Wisconsin, her sister Priscilla of Dennisport, MA, her son, Tom and his wife Shelley of KnobNoster, Missouri, her daughter Dot of Hallowell, her granddaughter Becky of KnobNoster, Missouri, her grandson Tim of Glendale Heights, Illinois, and several nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind many dear friends whom she enjoyed greatly. Funeral services will be held 2 PM Tuesday at Crosby & Neal, 21 Oak Street, Guilford with the Rev. Lloyd Rozelle officiating. Friends may call from 1 PM until the time of services. A reception will follow the services at the Guilford Masonic Hall. Spring burial will be in Sangerville Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to Riverbend Apartments Residence Fund, Riverbend Drive, Guilford, ME 04443.