HOULTON – Carole Ann Kirk was born in Houlton, Maine to Don and Ruth Kirk. She was the first Houlton baby of 1939, born on January 2.

Carole was raised in Houlton and graduated high school in 1957. She enjoyed summer fun with cousins at Nickerson Lake at Aunt Etta Robinson’s camp and potato picking in the fall for her Uncle Herman and Aunt Rusty Porter. She went on to Ricker College and earned her Associate’s degree.

She married the love of her life, Phil McCarthy, June 16, 1962. They lived briefly in New Jersey, where their first son, Rick, was born. They returned to Maine and their second son, Greg was born the following year.

Phil’s work took them to Bangor, on to Illinois and then back to Houlton for a stint before spending many years in Kittery, Clinton and Winslow, Maine. Carole enjoyed raising her two boys and held various office and retail jobs before spending many years at the University New Hampshire Mechanical Engineering department as an office administrator. She especially enjoyed working at her parent’s grocery store, Kirk’s Country Store, and at Chadwick’s Florist, both in Houlton and always held fond memories of her colleagues at UNH. She worked at Dead River in Houlton and got to meet Ted Williams who was up North for a fishing trip. When asked if she got his autograph, she said “oh no, I just stared at him because he was so tall and handsome”.

Carole had a lifelong love of gardening and grew beautiful flowers. She was a great cook who prepared all the meals until she couldn’t – her Saturday night baked beans were Phil’s favorite.

Carole also loved birds and Mountains and spent many happy trips to Baxter State Park. She climbed Mt. Katahdin several times including once in her 60s. She enjoyed travel including special trips to Ireland, England and Scotland.

After retirement she and Phil bought their dream home, a lovely log cabin on several acres and with beautiful gardens and Christmas trees. It was a labor of love and they spent many hours keeping the house and grounds beautiful. They annually let their kids and friends cut down Christmas trees. She also spent countless hours at grandkids basketball, baseball, school plays, band events, and graduations. She had many loved pets in her life, none more special than Deeva, her Bijon Frise companion of many years including in retirement.

Carole is survived by her husband Phil of 62 years of marriage. She is also survived by her son, Greg and wife Julie, and their sons, Connor and Evan; daughter-in-law, Michele McCarthy and her sons Sean and Noah. She leaves behind her two younger brothers, Robert Kirk and his wife Mary and Don Kirk; along with many nieces and nephews and special cousins. She was predeceased by her much loved parents; her son, Rick; her sister, Barbara; and many beloved grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A special thank you to the many very fine people at Lakewood Nursing Home and Beacon Hospice Care who took great and loving care of Carole.

Carole’s body will be cremated and her ashes laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Houlton, Maine. There will be no funeral service but a celebration of life will be scheduled at a later time this summer or early fall.

Arrangements are in the care of Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield where memories may be shared, and an online register book signed by visiting http://www.lawrybrothers.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Houlton Humane Society http://www.houltonhumanesociety.us

Copy the Story Link