Elaine Lawson

Elaine Theresa Lawson died at Ocala Medical Center in Florida on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022 after a short illness. She fell breaking ribs on Feb.14th; she entered a hospital on the 15th; was transferred to a larger hospital for surgery to repair a punctured lung on Feb. 25th. She was unable to recover from her injuries. 

She was born July 25th, 1953 in Biddeford to Charlies and Edna (Boisjoly) Boucher and was one of six siblings. She attended the former Notre Dame School and graduated from Thornton Academy in 1971. She lived in Maine most of her life, marrying William (Bill) Lawson in 1971, and raising two daughters - Dawn and Kristyn and a son - William (Billy).

Elaine and Bill met when he threw a firecracker at her and her friends on Scammons Corner in Saco.  She responded with “You got more?” She was seventeen years old and full of sass. They dated throughout her senior year and he even allowed her to drive his car, a 1970 Duster 340. They were married on August 6, 1971, and a daughter, Dawn, followed in Oct. 1972. 

Elaine and Bill lived in various places from Old Orchard Beach, Conway, NH, to Moody, Woburn, MA, and then back to Biddeford and then Saco. They had a son, William, and another daughter Kristyn during this time. The family spent eight years living in and around the Greater Toronto region in Ontario, Canada where they met their best friends Hugo and Rebecca Fava. The family moved back to Maine in 1989. 

Elaine took great pride in raising her three children and worked in various jobs outside the home. She loved being a part of a community and made friends wherever she worked. She especially loved her position at John Roberts where her meticulous attention to detail allowed her to show exceptional proficiency at sewing items made for LL Bean.

She was especially skilled in all manners of crafting. Earlier in her life, she excelled at ceramics creating hand-painted Santa’s workshops, dozens of mouse ornaments, and vintage light-up Christmas trees that her daughters now cherish. She sewed Halloween costumes and several prom dresses, as well as crocheted blankets and mittens.  She designed and created quilts for each of her children, hand-sewing the layers in intricate patterns taking her hundreds and hundreds of hours. She shared her love through what she created.

Elaine loved to read -- online, newspapers, novels, memoirs, and especially tabloid magazines. Her home was filled with reading materials. She passed this passion on to both her daughters resulting in her oldest daughter becoming an English teacher. 

Elaine was an avid candle-pin bowler averaging a 105. She loved gardening, swimming in her backyard pool, and exploring the country by RV after Bill’s retirement. Her favorite place in the world was Hawaii and visited twice during her life to soak up the plumeria flowers, fresh pineapple, mango, and papayas. 

She loved her grandchildren immensely and enjoyed hosting them for sleepovers and pool parties. She followed all of their activities online when a back injury prevented her from attending in person. 

She became close to her two sisters - Joanne and Nancy -  after they each married and raised children. She searched for her long-lost brother Richard for almost 20 years. She never ever gave up hope. She hired a private investigator, combed social media, and was thrilled when he returned to Maine and reunited with his family a few years ago.

After Bill retired, they sold their house, bought an RV, and embarked on an adventure to visit all 50 states. They wintered two years in Arizona and the last two in Florida. Elaine especially loved seeing the redwoods in California. 

After health issues limited her mobility, she kept in touch with friends and family through the power of social media. She enjoyed stirring the pot on Facebook, but never quite got the hang of the newsfeed and we loved her for it. 

She is survived by her loving husband William Lawson, her daughter Dawn Pendergrass, her husband Craig, and grandson Elijah of Saco; her son William Lawson, his wife Ellen, and grandson Tyler of Standish; her daughter Kristyn McKenzie, her husband Kevin, granddaughter Katelyn, and grandson Jordan of Saco; her sister Joanne and her husband Chet; her brothers Richard, Kenneth, and Carl Boucher, her sister Nancy Quindelan, her nephews Scott, Fredy and nieces Julie, and Maria. She is predeceased by her parents Charles and Edna Boucher.

A small family gathering will be held later this spring to celebrate Elaine’s life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation in Elaine’s name for the daffodil and tulip replanting at Laurel Hill Cemetary. She so loved those flowers. 

Laurel Hill Cemetary

293 Beach St. Saco ME 04072

Please include in the check memo line: In memory of Elaine Lawson for daffodil and tulip replanting.