Margaret Hanks Coffin

    COFFIN, Margaret Hanks, 84, PRESQUE ISLE, at Augusta, August 9, 2010. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.

    PRESQUE ISLE – Margaret Hanks Coffin, 84, originally of  Presque Isle, died Monday, August 9, 2010, at the Glenridge Nursing Home  in Augusta. She was born in Augusta on May 18, 1926, the daughter of the late Dana and Ethelle Libby Hanks.
    Margaret attended Cony High School, Fischer Business School and the University of Maine at Orono. She was a long time member of the Presque Isle Congregational Church and its choir, Caribou Choral Society and Beta Sigma Phi.
    Born and brought up in Augusta, Margaret had a desire to be in radio at an early age. At Orono, she got involved in the Radio Guild Club, writing scripts, performing music, etc.  Her love of radio brought her to Presque Isle where they needed an announcer at WAGM. It was there she met her husband-to-be, Ted Coffin. Several years later when she worked for WRKD-Radio in Rockland, she and Ted were married. After only 10 years of marriage, Ted passed away leaving her to raise her two girls. Her work in radio and television ended with Ted’s passing. In order to support the family, she briefly taught school but soon went on to work in the library field.
    Margaret earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science while working in the library at Aroostook State Teacher’s College. She was the first librarian for Northern Maine Technical College, where she was head librarian from the late 60’s until 1996 when she retired. Her work building the new library there was one of her proudest accomplishments.
    Her favorite things in life were her house, her gardens, traveling, the family camp at Three Mile Pond, shopping, hosting luncheons, shoes and her dogs. But music was the biggest part of her life. Her piano playing and singing brought her great joy until she could no longer see the music. Both of her daughters were, and still are, musical thanks to passion that she passed on to them. While she was truly not suited for retirement, she found ways to keep herself busy.
    She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the Caribou Choral Society, the Presque Isle Community Players, even writing and assisting with the direction of a dinner theatre production in 2003. Her love of storytelling made her a welcome dinner guest. She was always “entertaining”!
    A celebration party was held on Saturday, at the Northeastland Hotel to allow all of her friends and family to “tell stories” and sing together.
    She was predeceased by her husband, R. Theodore Coffin in 1964; her brother, Dana Hanks, Jr.; and sister, Lois Hanks.
    She is survived by her two daughters, Nanci Lee (LaMarque) and her husband Jim, and Lucinda Ann; her niece, Susan Gayne and her husband Steve; her nephew, Dana McLean Hanks and his wife, MaryAnn; her sisters-in-law, Barbara Hews, Jackie Haines, Geraldine  Wheeler, and Helen King; and brothers-in-law, Richard King and his wife Irene, and Harold Quass; numerous nieces and nephews; and her very special longtime friends from Presque Isle. Margaret’s beloved dog, Brandy Sue, also survives her.
    Family and friends called on Friday, August 13, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service was held Saturday, August 14, at 3 p.m. at the Presque Isle Congregational Church. Burial followed at the Fairmont Cemetery, where she was laid to rest beside her husband. A reception to celebrate her life followed at the Northeastland Hotel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross Street, Presque Isle, Maine; Caribou Choral Society, c/o Dan Ladner, Fleetwood Street, Presque Isle, Maine; or the Diabetes Foundation, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.