Contributions to the tribute of Dorothy Ann (Cole) Ryder

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Lincoln Ryder posted a condolence

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Allan and Kathy and families, Our deepest condolences for your loss. We will keep you and your families in our thoughts and prayers. , Lincoln & Brenda Ryder

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Kimberly & Olamide Odusami uploaded photo(s)

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Allen, Kathy and family, Your mom was such a joy to be around and a wonderful lady to have as a next door neighbor for my parents and for us. She wore her kind heart and generosity on her sleeve and made sure that we all felt welcome in the neighborhood as we made our home in Veazie. We loved to come home and see her waiving to us from her picture window and listening to her own travel stories when we would return from our trips abroad. She definitely lived a full and exciting life. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.

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Mabel Whitley lit a candle

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

When we moved to Greenville, and Rick was being interviewed by Dr. Ralph Ryder- we had the chance to meet his adoring wife. She made us both feel so welcomed, and we left just hoping we got to live in such a beautiful place like Greenville, where the people love you and make you feel at home. She told me after we moved to Greenville, that when we left Dr. Ryder's office, she told him, I hope you make the right choice, they are such a lovely couple and a breath of fresh air. While life changes things and people come and go, she has always been in the back of both of our minds. Greenville, I am sure knows they have lost a golden "angel" and Rick and I were so happy to have met this beautiful person- we did not speak much for everyone was busy, but once in a while she and I would cross paths and we always remembered our first meeting in the Superintendents office- and timing was everything. To her wonderful children, prayers of love and peace to each of you~~ may God's strength be your continued guide in the days to come. We offer our sincere condolences to each family member,~~ you were blessed with wonderful parents, and we were blessed to have them cross our baths in life. Your Mom always had an infectious smile. Sorry for your loss~~ Mr. and Mrs. Richard Whitley

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Nancy Dionne posted a condolence

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Alan and family, Bob and I are sorry for your loss. Thinking of you. ❤️

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Allan Ryder uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

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Allan Ryder uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

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Allan & Kathy Ryder posted a condolence

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

A brief summary of her life with a few stories from Allan & Kathy: During high school she worked part-time at her Uncle Ted Hathaway’s movie theater here in town. After high school she went to school to be an x-ray technician and worked in California for a while then moved back to Maine. In the late 1970’s she worked part-time at the C.A. Dean Hospital filling in as an x-ray technician. She married Ralph Knight Ryder on New Years Eve 1956 in the Union Church in Greenville, Maine. They moved to Farmington, ME where Ralph was going to school to be a teacher. That is when Allan was born and they lived in an apartment in The Brick Inn, which ironically is two buildings down from where Allan had an apartment for 17 years for work up until 2 years ago. After Farmington, they moved to Bingham, and Kathy was born in Skowhegan (almost in the parking lot of the hospital), then to Bethel Maine. Then to Madison Heights (a suburb of Detroit) and Grand Rapids Michigan for 3 years, before moving back to Greenville; then East Millinocket, back to Greenville and eventually settling in Veazie. Everywhere Dot & Ralph lived they made numerous lifelong friends. They played a lot of bridge in every town they lived in and played a lot of cribbage at their camp on Wilson Pond. Every Thanksgiving there would be very competitive Scrabble games between Dot, Allan & Kathy. As much as they tried, they could never get Ralph or any other family member to join in. All through the years she especially enjoyed watching game shows – especially Wheel-of-Fortune and Jeopardy. She also took to the computer in recent years and would communicate via email, Facebook, and Words With Friends. Wilson Pond was one of her favorite places to be. Her mother (Emma) and father (Web) built a camp in the late 1940’s on the shore of Wilson Pond when Dottie and Charlotte were young kids. Her parents, Dot & Charlotte shuttled the lumber and building materials for the camp from Walden’s landing, across to the other side of the pond by a wooden boat. Eventually another camp was built in the early 1950’s not too far from the first camp, but access was by road. In the early 1970’s Ralph & Dot (with help from family & friends) built their own camp on the same lot her parents built their second camp. Both camps remain in the family today. Dot made a couple trips to Wilson Pond last summer. The last few years she really enjoyed the pontoon boat rides around the pond with her family. At camp there is a guest book dating back to the late 1940’s from the first camp and continuing to the second camp and this guest book will be available to review at the reception at the Masonic Temple. Dorothy loved her family deeply… She was always willing to help out when visiting her kids…taking care of grandchildren, folding clothes, doing dishes, hemming or mending,…anything to lend a hand and ease the burden of others. She generously offered advice as well! She was quite adept at target practice…shooting a .22 with great accuracy! Back in her earlier days she used to go shoot rats at the Greenville Dump. One day (we think it was in high school) she and another girlfriend told each other’s parents they were going to stay at each other’s houses. Well…they went to the dump that night to shoot rats. They left the car headlights on to be able to see the rats to shoot them. The battery died (due to the lights being on too long), so they both ended up sleeping in the car (one in the front seat, the other in the back) all night, rather than walk back to town in the middle of the night in the dark and have to face their parents. In more recent years, maybe ten years ago the Ryder and Andrews family (with their kids) with Dot and Ralph went out for a walk in the Veazie Town Forest (which is located directly behind their home) which had numerous trails throughout the forest. Allan, being a forester thought it would be a good idea to take the family on a nature walk to see the large white oak tree, hollowed out big enough for the grandkids to get inside, the ant hills, the other numerous trees and trails that were marked. Well…Dot got tired part way through the walk and decided to head back to her home on her own through the woods trail. 20 minutes later the rest of the family got back to the house and no Dot. The family got worried, panicky and several went back into the woods to search for her. Dot ended up taking a wrong turn and ended up coming out on Route 2 and walked the long way along the roads to get home. The family was all relieved when she showed back up to her home 40 minutes later! Dot thought nothing of it and apologized for getting lost and putting us through so much worry. Dot lived at home in Veazie until she fell and fractured her lower back in September of 2023. After a stay at St. Joe’s Hospital in Bangor she moved to Maine Veterans Home in Bangor for Re-Hab. She ended up staying there after rehab and made many friends there. She participated in many activities including bus field trips, Bingo several times per week, Arts & Crafts and Cribbage Tournaments. She was playing Bingo up until about a week or so before her passing.

A Memorial Tree was planted for Dorothy Ryder

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Lary Funeral Home-Dover-Foxcroft Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree

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The family of Dorothy Ann (Cole) Ryder uploaded a photo

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

(207) 564-3391

Dorothy Ann (Cole) Ryder

1935 - 2024

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