Violet (Tozier) Ward

Fairfield--Our beloved mother, Violet (Tozier) Ward, 82, passed away peacefully at her apartment in Waterville on the morning of Thursday, April 11, 2013 in the arms of her daughters with her family at her side.

Violet was born on September 3, 1930 in Somerville, Massachusetts, the daughter of Marie Elizabeth Demeule and Gordon Alexander Murphy. She was educated at St. Catherine of Genoa in Somerville, and was a talented pianist, winning a prize in a contest at the age of 12, then being offered a scholarship to the Boston Conservatory of Music.

Violet married Lynn E. Tozier of Madison on June 10, 1946 and they moved to Los Angeles, California where she worked in a movie studio cafeteria, ultimately supervising 10 employees. After they returned to Maine in 1949 they settled into farming in Madison. Their first child, Esther Marie was born, followed closely by their second child, Mary Eileen.

Violet went to work as “Christmas help” at the W. T. Grant Company in the early 1950’s. She so impressed the management, she was offered a permanent position in the Credit Department. She later became a teller at Federal Trust Company in Skowhegan, and during that time, her third child, Kathleen Elaine, was born.

In 1975, Violet was offered a position in the Accounting Department at Merrill Trust Company in Waterville, and moved to Fairfield. She later became the assistant to the loan officer in the Installment Loan Department, from where she retired in 1992. Thereafter, she worked part-time in customer service for Central Maine Power for two years.

On February 13, 1993, she married Hollis A. Ward of Winslow, and welcomed his children, Hollis Jr., Barbara, and Randa, and their families. After his passing on March 6, 1997, Violet began volunteering at Thayer Hospital in Waterville, on 2-Central, where her organizational capabilities quickly made her indispensable to the nurses and staff there.

On June 2, 2011, Violet was predeceased by her very special son-in-law, Jeffery Soule Merrill. Jeff was like a son to her and cared for her like his own mother from 1973 until his passing.

Violet enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, the Jumble, and the Cryptoquip; watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune; the Lawrence Welk Show; Frank Sinatra; and going to Governor’s Restaurant for breakfast daily.

She is survived by her daughters, Esther Libby and her partner Tony Duchanin of Waldoboro, Mary Merrill of Oakland, and Kathleen Lee and her husband Richard of Oakland; grandchildren and great-grandchildren David Libby, his wife Gwen, and their children Ashley, Jonathan, and Brandon of Hebron, Kristen Merrill Lavoie, her husband Jason, and their son Jonas Kai of Woolwich, Jessica Shoudy and her partner Damon of Canaan, Nikole Stuart, her fiance Branden, and her children Noah Vieta and Sophia Stuart of Belgrade, Aaron Shoudy and his partner Rachael of Gorham, and Victoria Duprey of Oakland.

There will be a memorial service held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Notre Dame Parish, 112 Silver Street, Waterville, Maine followed by a luncheon reception. A private spring burial is planned.

For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army.

Mary and Kathy would like to thank all the wonderful people who helped make our mother’s last weeks of life as gentle and peaceful as possible, and for easing our minds and hearts: The nurses and staff at Inland Hospital, especially Bethany, and Lakewood Skilled Nursing Facility; Dr. Todd Stapley; Dr. John Bonney and his assistant, Jessica; Russ Claybrook, SLP; the staff at Park Residences, especially Olivia; the incredible staff at Beacon Hospice, especially Kris, Michelle, and Aaron; and Assistance Plus, especially Karolyn.