Helen Wanda Murphy (Doughty) Merrill

Helen Wanda Murphy (Doughty) Merrill September 5, 1925 December 7, 2013 Scarborough - Helen Wanda Murphy (Doughty) Merrill, 88, died quietly on December 7, 2013 while in the loving care of the Gosnell House after a long bout with breast cancer. She was born on September 5, 1925 in Westbrook, the daughter of Johnson Henry and Helen (Milligan) Murphy of Prince Edward Island. She attended Rocky Hill and Westbrook High School. Helen married Linwood Eugene Doughty on December 31, 1941. After Linwood's death, she married Percy Byron Merrill of Westbrook on August 24, 1965. Foremost, Helen was a mom and homemaker. From 1942 to 1945 she worked in the West Yard of the South Portland Shipyward as a ""Rosie the Riviter"" on the Liberty Ships. In 1945 she went to work at the S.D. Warren paper mill in the cutting department until she retired. After retiring she had numerous little jobs as a short order cook and baker. Helen loved to go camping, hunting and fishing. She liked to go muskrat hunting with Lin along the Presumpscot River and helped with the tanning and selling of the hides. She also loved to knit, crochet and sew, but most of all, she loved to bake and cook for everyone. She was a former Girl Scout & Boy Scout leader, a volunteer at the Westbrook Rod & Gun Club, a member of the Cumberland County Riding Club a member of the SMAAA RSVP volunteer. Helen is predeceased by her parents, her two husbands, a brother, ""Hank Murphy"", two sisters Mary (Murphy) Grady and Francis (Mary) Morin, a step-son Tom Merrill and a grandson Jason Robert. She is survived by a sister Nora (Murphy) Duclos of Portland, two sons, Arthur Doughty of Westbrook and Thomas Doughty of Jackman, a daughter Linda Hoitt of Saco, four step-daughters, Martha (Merrill) Brackett and Linda (Merrill) Hopkins, both of Westbrook, Jane (Doughty) Freeman and JoAnna(Doughty) Alexander, both of Hollis. She is also survived by 40 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A special thanks to all the people who loved our mother as much as we did and for all your thoughts, prayers and support. An extra special thanks goes out to the hospice folks and the Gosnell House in Scarborough, where our mother was able to pass over without pain, with dignity and was treated with gentle, caring hands by all the staff there. Rest in peace mom, we love you and will miss you. A celebration of life party will be held at the American Legion Hall, Dunn St., Westbrook on Friday, December 13, 2013 from 5pm on. Please bring a covered dish. In honor of our mother, please consider donations in her memory to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House 11 Hunnewell Rd. Scarborough, ME 04074

Helen Wanda Murphy (Doughty) Merrill

September 5, 1925 - December 7, 2013

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