Ritchie, Phyllis “Sis”, 91, February 28, 2014. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. March 15, 2014, at the Houlton United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
Phyllis “Sis” Drake Ritchie, 91, passed away Feb. 28, 2014, at a local hospital. She was born January 11, 1923, at Houlton, the daughter of the late Lola McGuire Drake and Lyman Houlton Drake.
Phyllis was a 1940 graduate of Houlton High School, valedictorian of her class, and a graduate of Houlton Business College. After completing her education, she was employed as a secretary to Frank W. Hussey in Presque Isle, where she met her beloved husband of 53 years. Returning to Houlton, she was employed as a secretary at Dunn Furniture Company where she worked until 1945 when she married George Ritchie and lived in Mapleton for the next fifteen years. In 1960, the Ritchie family moved to Houlton when her husband was transferred to work at U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. The Ritchies owned and operated Drake’s Dairy Bar for many years.
Phyllis was a longtime and active member of the Houlton United Methodist Church, a 50 year plus member of the Lunar Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Houlton Country Club, a past member of the American Contract Bridge League and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Her life was devoted to her dear family and wonderful friends. The games of bridge and mahJhong took any spare time she had.
Phyllis is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, James and Louann Ritchie, Drake “Doug” and Tamara Ritchie; one daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Max Lynds; much loved grand-children, Jennifer and Matthew Carr, Billi Ann and Jack Knapp, Ritchie and Kendra Lynds, Adam and Mary Lynds, Benjamin and Sarah Lynds, Lucus and Michelle Ritchie, Natasha Ritchie and Blake McCarthy; great-grandchildren, Collette Ritchie, Alex Donovan, Olivia Carr, Konnor and Addyson Lynds, Jacob Lynds, Kylie and James Cleaves, Devon Ledger, Amelia Knapp and Drake Lynds; great-great-granddaughter, Hannah Cleaves; brother-in-law, Eugene Bell; nephews, George and Tim Drake, Brian and Drake Bell and their families; a very special part of her family, Mr. and Mrs. Loren Ritchie and their four sons and families. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband George “Red” Ritchie; her brother, George Drake and her sisters, Betty Ann Drake and Lucy Bell; great-grandson, Taylor Wilson Lynds; a beloved aunt, Helena Drake; and two very dear and special friends, E. Leighton Fortier and Ralph F. Hodgdon.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. March 15, 2014, at the Houlton United Methodist Church with Rev. Patrice Goodwin officiating. Gifts may be made in Phyllis’s memory to the Houlton United Methodist Church or charity of one’s choice, c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, ME 04730.
