Ellsworth
On April 28, 2019, our Mom, Laverne M. Bickford, was reunited with “the only boy she ever loved,” our Dad, Vernon Bickford.
Laverne was born in Baltimore, Md., on May 28, 1928, the daughter of Chester and Myrtle Merchant. Their family moved to Winter Harbor when Mom was 14 years old. It was there that Mom and Dad met. They were married for 71 years when he passed away in 2018.
Together Laverne and Vernon traveled across the country on a camping trip and made many special friends and fabulous memories for their grandchildren visiting various campgrounds around the state and spending time with them all. She loved her family, reading, and made the best chocolate double scrub cake, donuts and pumpkin pie ever.
Laverne is survived by her three daughters, Audrey Hawxwell, Nancy (Michael) Brann and Dorothy (Richard) Small. She leaves behind six grandchildren, Dori (Scott) Flynn, Daniel (Christina) Hawxwell and Susan (Norman) FitzGerald, Heidi (Arnold) Riggs, Catherine (Steve) O’Halloran, and Kayla Small. Great-grandchildren, Caitlyn, Garrett, Malayna, Steven, Abi, Micah, Ceara, Claire and Ian. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and Stewart and Alice Workman always held a very special place in her heart.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Vernon, sisters, Dorothy Crooks and Etta Russell, son-in-law Thomas Hawxwell and grandson Jesse Riggs.
We would like to thank the staff at Courtland Rehab and Living for making Mom comfortable and happy for the last seven months. She truly loved you all.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at 1 p.m. in the Brookside Cemetery beside her husband in Winter Harbor. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Ellsworth.