Catherine Gilbert Bacon, 82, passed away peacefully Jan. 23, after a brief illness. She was born on Jan. 23, 1927, daughter of Ronald W. and Thena (Sullivan) Gilbert. Kay grew up in Oakland and graduated from Williams High School and went on to work at BFD Timber unit for six years until she married Otis Bacon and started her lifelong job of raising a loving family. She truly enjoyed being the wife of a legislator, serving as a second home for the members of the 99th legislature. She was an active member of the Sidney Parent Teacher's Club at the James H. Bean School and was a founding member of the Sidney Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary. Kay enjoyed working with her husband toward the betterment of the University of Maine and closely followed all sporting events. She was also involved in many other community services and events too numerous to list. Kay will be remembered for her wonderful, sweet demeanor and will be greatly missed by many cherished family members and friends. She thoroughly enjoyed entertaining and looked forward to any opportunity to serve a good home cooked meal. She was famous for her baked beans and homemade bread and colossal chop suey. Hunting and fishing were an important part of her family life and she was especially proud of shooting a moose at the age of 78. Following the activities of her family was important to her and she beamed as she would boast about each and every grandchild. Kay was very proud of her garden and loved to drive herself to Greenville to visit family and friends. Boating and skiing were an important part of her very complete life. The family boat, the Pair-A-Dice, encompassed many fond memories on Moosehead Lake. As the mayor's wife at "Friendly Squaw Mountain," the skiers were part of her family. She was especially excited when she and one special friend, Harriet, conquered the Seboomook, the mountain's toughest trail. She is survived by five children -- daughter, Brenda, of Sidney, son, Bryan, and wife Gwen of Sidney, son, Barry, and Arlene of Belgrade, daughter, Bonnie Bouchard, of Greenville and daughter, Bette DiAngelo, and husband Joe of Greenville. She has nine cherished grandchildren, Nick and fiancée Megan, Adam, Danny and Theresa, Dylan and Olivia, Tony, Matt and Connor and one-great grandson, AJ; three sisters, Beverly, Natalie and Sherry; one brother, Terry; many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews and a brother-in-law, Earl, and wife Pauline. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Otis Bacon, and a nephew Randy. Friends may share time and stories with her family Sunday from 7-9 p.m. and Monday from 2-4 p.m. at Wheeler's Funeral Home in Oakland. The mass to celebrate her life will be held Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Oakland. There will be a memorial service to be announced in Greenville and a spring burial, followed by a gathering at her request at the family garage in Sidney. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to local athletes attending Greenville athletic camps c/o Bette DiAngelo, P.O. Box 357, Greenville Jct., ME 04442.

--Published in the Kennebec [Maine] Journal on Sunday, January 25, 2009