Florence Elita (Wells) Pike (1914-2012)

AUBURN – Florence Elita (Wells) Pike, 97 years, five months, 16 days, of Wilton, died Friday afternoon, April 6, 2012 at the Clover Manor Nursing Home in Auburn.

She was born October 21, 1914 at Ballardvale a part of Andover, Mass., a daughter of Harry Escott Wells and Hattie Mae Howland.  Florence moved to Wilton, Maine, in 1928, graduated from Wilton Academy in the class of 1933.

At the time of her death she was the oldest member of the Wilton United Methodist Church.
She had been a member of the Wilton United Methodist Church since the late 1920s. She was also the oldest member of the Howland Society. This family society is composed of members of the Joseph Howland and Cordelia Searles Family. This family began its reunions in 1890. Joseph and Cordelia were her great great grandparents and they and their 11 children lived in Perkins Plantation, just north of Wilton.

The Howland Society of Wilton has met almost every year since that year. Today it is composed of the Howland, Searles and Bubier families and their descendants in the Wells, Pike, Knapp, Cook, Carter, Boothby, Bradeen, Collins, Chandler, Dow, Maxwell, Taylor, Lidstone, McBean, Proctor, Lowell and Scott families.

Following high school graduation Florence attended Nursing School in Rumford.  She was a past member of Wilson Grange, the Wilton Historical Society, and many different local clubs in Wilton. She met and married William Stanley Pike, the Baggage Master at the Wilton, Maine Central Railway office on June 22, 1934.

They lived in Dryden until Florence and her husband moved to Brettuns Pond in Livermore in 1960 and following the death of her husband, Stanley she moved back to Wilton. In 2010 she moved to Clover Manor in Auburn, where she lived until the time of her death.

During her married life she worked as a cook in the Wilton schools. Later in life she worked in many homes taking care of elderly people. She loved  to celebrate any occasion with her family. She was the gracious hostess at gatherings at her camp on Brettuns Pond. She decorated her home for every holiday.

Florence loved to cook. She tried new recipes and gave to each new relative her recipe cards especially for all the dishes she made. People always asked her to make finger rolls for their celebrations. She also loved to play many kinds of games, especially Scrabble. She sewed, crocheted and knit just about anything that could be made.  When Roy and Royce were small boys she made all of their clothing.

She is survived by her son, Rev. Dr. Roy Escott Pike and wife, Shirley of Jenks, OK; and her daughter, Rebecca Eileen (Pike) Prestridge and husband, Roger of Monmouth. Florence had three children, seven grandchildren, 19 great grand children and nine great great grandchildren.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, William Stanley Pike in 1977; a son, Royce Ermon Pike in 1958,  three brothers and three sisters.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Clover Manor in Auburn and the Androscoggin County Hospice staff for their tender generosity and the exceptional care they provided.

This loving matriarch of the family will truly be missed but we know she is now in heaven rejoicing with all of her ancestors. She will be remembered for sharing her love with all her family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Wilton United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 10 a.m. The service will be conducted by her pastor, Rev. Laura Church, her grandson, Rev. Michael Alan Pike, and her son, Rev. Dr. Roy Escott Pike. Interment will be at the Lakeview Cemetery in Wilton. Arrangements are in the care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 136 High St., Wilton.