What a wonderful tribute Saturday to a wonderful woman. Despite the snow, a large turnout of friends and family gathered at the Calvary Bible Church in Stratton to say their goodbyes to Carol Gray who passed away recently. Lynne Pease played a piano prelude with Pastor Bruce Townsend welcoming everyone. It was wonderful as granddaughter Felicia Gray shared memories of her grandmother and then when it was Greg Pease’s turn to tell his memories of Carol it was more than he could take as he became overwhelmed trying to tell everyone of he and Carol’s first ride together on his motorcycle. I remember taking the photo and I think she was 78 years old. “We went all the way to the coast that day to get lobster,” and then a few years later they traveled to Rangeley. “I wish I had done it more,” said Greg. So many people had their fond memories of Carol, one of them was Ed Hobbs who said he had completed his new house and Carol had called to say she was coming down, well, said Ed, my boys were excited because Carol was known as the “Pie Lady” in town and so with their mouths all set —they knew it was just a matter of time and they would have one of Carol’s famous pies in their mouths. Well you can imagine their amazement when Carol arrived “not with pies” but with a lamp for their new home.

The grandchildren of the late Carol Gray hold a graphite drawing of their grandmother, which was on display at the Calvary Bible Church in Stratton on Saturday during the celebration of her life. The grandchildren are (left to right) Jonathan Gray of Turner, Amanda Gray of Inverness, Fla., Felicia Gray with the United States Coastguard based on the cutter the Midgett out of Seattle, Wash. and Jason Gray of Turner. (Laura Dunham photo) You could hear a pin drop as Mollie Reed read a poem dedicated to Carol written by Gladys Hicks. A portion of the poem read, “There’s a lady in our town who’s always on the go....if you need transportation just let our Carol know.....if there is a special meeting with food around the table, Carol can be counted on for a cook she’s very able....when I am being visited she plans to send a pie, her specialty is lemon meringue.....for this I cry.”

The women of the church prepared a delicious dinner that was served in the basement of the church.

Sarah Churchill and several others in Kingfield have been working on the upcoming Kingfield Festival Days fundraising auction on March 13 at the Herbert Grand Hotel. The silent auction will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. with the general auction to be held at 6 p.m. There are many valuable prizes to bid on including a one-day rafting trip on either the Penobscot or Kennebec River for two people with White water Adventure through Northern Outdoors valued at $200. There are also lots of gift certificates including from Gepetto’s valued at $100 and Tufullio’s valued at $100. There’s also a stain glass item made by Pat Pray, jewelry, an overnight at the Nestlewood Inn, golf and skiing packages and much more. It is very costly to put on the three-day event each year, so if anyone would like to make a cash donation to help with the expenses they can send it to Kingfield Days Festival, PO Box 32, Kingfield, Maine 04947. Any and all will be greatly appreciated.

In New Portland, town manager Staci Rundlett said that due to the resignation of Dale Earle on the school board, the selectmen will have to appoint someone to fill out this year. Bobby Sue Crawford and Kyle Handrahan both have indicated that they are interested in the position. In the general election for the town on Friday, March 5 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wayne Rundlett is running for a seat on the board of selectmen and Valerie Pinkham is running for a seat on the school board.

Rundlett said that now that the post office is closed at the West Village, there will soon be mail delivery for those living on the Chick and Wire Bridge Roads. Sharon Luce, postmaster at the North Village post office said Staci is working on getting mail service for those living on Bennett and Atwood Hill roads too.

Don’t forget to go and get your shingle shot —I am still in misery with mine on my shoulder that is going into three years. I was pleased to see Dick and Lorraine Chandler who said that they had gone and had their shots but for Meg Rogers it was too late as she told me this week, “I should have listened to you.”