Avis Bacon Hart (1928-2019)

5 mins read
Avis Bacon Hart

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away.”

Avis Bacon Hart, our sunshine, passed peacefully from this Earth on Oct. 30, 2019, at the age of 90. Avis was born Nov. 1, 1928, the third child of Phillip and Genieve Bacon. Growing up on a small farm in Rome, Maine, she learned the value of hard work, but also, with a gleam in her eye, the value of having fun. Love of family was vital in those early days where she was surrounded with a large family, including her sister Doris and brother Wesley. Eventually, her family moved to Farmington where Avis graduated from Farmington High School.

In 1946, after graduating from high school, Avis was introduced to Thomas Hart, a handsome Army Air Corpman from Cape Cod. They fell in love and were married that same year. History was in the making as they went on to raise their nine beloved children. Avis and Tom were married for 54 years until Tom passed in 2000. Life wasn’t always easy raising a large family and money was often tight, but there were always delicious homemade meals on the table and a warm home. Everyone learned how to raise a garden, make pickles, deep fry doughnuts, and get along with large groups of people as the house was always full. You could always count on a big batch of homemade baked beans at every gathering and the smell of baked bread would fill the house. Holidays were cherished celebrations with mountains of food, gifts, and laughter filling the house. In the summer, camping, and trips back to Tom’s birthplace on Cape Cod became a family tradition that is still carried on and enjoyed today.

Avis Bacon Hart

Aside from being a stay at home Mom, from time to time, Avis was also a working Mom. She worked for many years at the Farmington State Theater, bringing home bags of left-over popcorn for the family at the end of the night. She was a long-time employee at Fleet Bank, and also worked for McCormick spices, traveling from store to store with Tom as her driver in their seafoam green Ford Taurus. After retiring, Avis continued to work part-time at Reny’s in Farmington. Avis was a big fan of the Red Sox, and loved watching games with her family.

The importance of a good education and service to our country were important, and all nine of Avis and Tom’s children went on to either college or to serve in the military. Avis was so very proud of all her children and delighted in their successes. She was also a very proud grandmother and great grandmother, always anxious to hold and cuddle the next newborn.

Avis is survived by her children, Dean Hart of Farmington, Joline Hart of Farmington,Alan Hart and Heidi Dulong of Farmington, Lee Hart and Laurie of So. Sutton, NH,Karen Hart and Steve Soucy of Smithfield, Jeffrey Hart and Melissa of Rockport, Barbara White and Jeff of Haverhill, MA, Neil Hart and Kellee of Farmington, Suzanne Walsh and Ken of Waterville. She is also survived by; 22 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 4 great, great grandchildren; nephew Vint Bacon; and a large extended family. She could tell you the names and birthdates of each one of her 52 grandkids. Her love will live on in all of them and she will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Avis’s life will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at Dan and Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington, ME 04938. Visitation will be from 11 am to 1 pm, with a service beginning at 1 p.m. All are welcome. A private burial service will follow. Anyone wishing to make donations in her name, please consider the Iris Network, c/o of Development, 183 Park Ave., Portland, ME 04102 or Friends of Nobska Light, P.O. Box 183, Falmouth, MA 02541.

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30 Comments

  1. My deepest sympathies to the family. She was a wonderful lady with a smile for everyone. She will be greatly missed.

  2. Joline,

    My sincere condolences on the passing of your Mom. She was such a special person. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Becky Arsenault

  3. I am so sorry to hear of Avis’s passing. She was a lovely lady and such a joy to be around. I so much enjoyed working with her at the bank. My thoughts and prayers are with all of her family at this difficult time. May you cherish all of your memories of which I am sure that you all have many of them. We know that she is flying with the Angels and looking down on all of you. Rip Avis.

  4. My prayers and thoughts are with all the family. Avis was a special person and I have known her for a long time. .I first remember her at the bank. Tom and Avis moved to Wilton in their later years together and became my neighbor. What wonderful couple they were. After Tom’s passing, she continued to live there as long as her health permitted. I shall always cherish our times of laughing and talking about many different things.May God be near to all of you at this time.

  5. I am so sorry to hear this. Thinking of the whole family. She will be missed by many.

  6. Sorry for the loss of Avis and the many family members. She played an important part in everyone’s lives and you are all left with fond memories ♥️

  7. Deepest sympathy to Avis’ family. What a wonderful tribute to her. She was such a sweet lady, with a beautiful, friendly smile. Rest in peace.

  8. Dear Avis’ Family,

    Your mother is one of my very best Farmington memories. I remember meeting her in 1967 when I knocked on her door and she welcomed me, a complete stranger, into her home. I stopped because the mailbox said Hart, my last name, and I knew no one, was homesick, and needed to talk to someone. Her smile was exactly what I needed that day. Little did she know how much her warm hospitality meant to me that day.

    May you find comfort in your memories and in your faith. She was an example of the very best!

    Sincerely,
    Beverly Bisbee

  9. Jeff and Karen so sorry for your loss. What a legacy she and your dad created. I never knew there were 9 of you. Thinking of you all. What a life to Celebrate!

  10. Alan, Joline and Karen I’m so sorry for your loss.

    Sincerely,
    Cheryl (Lane) Sillanpaa

  11. Dear Harts, so sorry for your loss. She was a great mother to you all. It’s so hard to lose your mother that you have been blessed with for so many years.

  12. Jeff and family, so sorry for your loss. So glad your parents moved to Farmington and that you all have been such an important fiber of the community. She sure raised some great kids, so I’m sure you’ll all miss her very much. Peace to you all.

  13. My sympathies to all of those close to Avis.
    May your memories keep your heart full during this difficult time.

  14. Dean, Neil and the rest of the Hart family, my condolences for your loss. Dean, I loved the wonderful stories you’d tell me of our mom. My best to you all

  15. I’m sorry to hear about Aunt Avis. My thoughts and prayers are will you all. Aunt Avis was truly an amazing woman! Many of my Maine visits growing up were at her house and her BBQ’s. I am grateful for her and the happy memories. Lots of Love, Kristen

  16. Dear Hart Family,
    What a loving tribute to a very special lady! I had the joy and fun of working with Avis at the local movie theatre.
    She was delightful, caring, and a natural, mothering woman. May all of the loving memories of Avis bring smiles to your faces and peace to your hearts.

    With sincere sympathy,

    Chris Shardlow O’Roak

  17. Buttercup you will be so missed,
    but I know you are not hurting any more and that gives me so much comfort knowing that. My days of your wise cracks and wisdom will be no more however heaven gained a beautiful angel. R I P Buttercup.

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