Alma Binford Messer, age 96, passed away peacefully July 14, 2008 at Mystic Manor, where she had lived for the past three years.
She was born in a farmhouse built by her grandfather in North Baldwin, Maine on October 21, 1911, the only child of George E. Binford and Addie Noble Binford. Throughout her life she considered the farm in North Baldwin to be “the most wonderful place on the face of this earth” and she always spent as much time there as possible.
She was a graduate of Westbrook High School (ME) and graduated from Gorham Normal School (The University of Southern Maine) in 1931.
In 1932 she married LaForest Day in Westbrook. Their marriage ended in divorce and in 1940 she married Ernest R. Messer. They were married for forty-one years, until his death in 1981. During most of that time, they lived in East Hartford, CT. and for many years she sold hosiery in Hartford department stores: G. Fox & Co., Steigers and Sage Allyn. After retiring, she divided her time between the family farm in Maine and an apartment in Brookside Village, Pawcatuck, CT.
As an only child, Alma greatly treasured her family.
She leaves three children: Helen Day York of Vernon, CT; Marilyn M. Graham of Stonington, CT and her special friend, John Osgood, of Waynesboro, VA; and Ernest R. Messer and his wife, Jan, of Old Saybrook. She also leaves seven beloved grandchildren: Jeanne Aukstolis of South Windsor; Leonard Aukstolis of Vernon; Deborah Salas of East Hartford; Stephen Aukstolis and his wife, Claire, of South Windsor; Laura Graham and her husband, Ezio Genovesi, of Rome and Assisi, Italy; Stephen Graham and his wife, Toni, of Republic, WA; and Emily Graham of Portland and North Baldwin, ME. In addition, she leaves twelve great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, her brother-in-law, Elford Messer, and his wife, Louise, of S. Portland, ME, and many dear friends in both Maine and Connecticut, especially her very special friends, Dick and Dottie Wilson of Mystic, who visited her faithfully and brightened her days.
Alma has been a member of the South Congregational Church of East Hartford, CT since 1948, but after moving to Pawcatuck in 1984, she regularly attended the Mystic Congregational Church with her family.
A memorial service will be held there at on Thursday, July 24th at 1:30pm. A burial service of her urn will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2008 in the family plot at Hiram Village Cemetery in Hiram, ME, followed by a picnic lunch at the family farm in North Baldwin.
Alma was a woman of great faith and love and had an incredibly positive attitude. She will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mystic Manor, particularly nurses Sally and Anne, for the loving care shown to her.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Baldwin Historical Society, PO Box 159, East Baldwin, ME 04024 or to a charity of the donor’s choosing.
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