Catherine C. “Katie” Taxiarchis passed away on July 11, 2017 at home with her family in Buxton following a long illness. She was born on April 28, 1936, and raised in Wilmington Delaware by her parents Georgina and Nelson Cooper. She graduated from the College of William and Mary and attended nursing school at the University of Virginia graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science of Nursing Degree. She was the secretary of the sorority ZETA TAU ALPHA.
Katie came to Maine in 1960 to work on Mount Desert for the summer and never left. After taking a job at Maine Medical Center in 1961 she became an instructor of surgical nursing. It was there she met Louis N. Taxiarchis M.D., her husband of 56 years.
Katie stopped nursing full-time with the arrival of their first child Elizabeth, and became what she called a full-time “domestic engineer”. In addition to raising three children she managed a complex and sometimes crazy household and farm. She owned and rode horses, and also kept chickens, sheep, geese, ducks and a pig or two. She kept a large garden and did all the landscaping around their home. She canned vegetables form the garden and also put up jams and jellies. She made maple syrup every Spring from the trees around the house. Katie was an avid seamstress for her daughter and her friends, making dresses and gowns for special occasions. She also spent a good deal of time treating her sons and their friends for bumps and bruises. She maintained her nursing license and helped out at blood drives and school physicals. She and Lou entertained often in their home and she was known as a fantastic chef. They travelled the U.S. and parts of Europe.
Katie was also active in the doings of the town. She served on the planning board and was instrumental in starting the Summer Recreation Program and the Winter Ski Program in Buxton. She published a local newspaper, the Buxton Country News, from her dining room table for two years. She was a founding member of the Buxton Hollis Historical Society, a member of the Dorcas Society, and served 21 years on the SAD 6 School Board.
Once the kids were out of the house Katie became a travel agent, eventually opening Gorham Village Travel which along with serving area clients and friends gave her the opportunity to see much of the world. She especially enjoyed seeing Europe and later the Caribbean by cruise ship.
She is survived by her husband Louis of Buxton, and her children: Elizabeth Taxiarchis and partner William York of Buxton; John Taxiarchis and wife Elena of Wayland, MA; Nick Taxiarchis and wife Brenda of Buxton, She is also survived by her sister-in-law Mary Taxiarchis of Portland and John's three children Christina, Catherine, and Vanessa. We extend special thanks to her at-home caregivers Katie #2, Nicole, Annie, special kiddo: 8 year old Kelsie Bradeen among others, and to the staff at VNA Hospice for the care they provided in Katie's last days.
There will be a celebration of Catherine's life later in the summer.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy research at www.psp.org