Alice Rowena (Lunney) Gregory (1915-2010)

A beloved and enduring presence in Aroostook County, Maine has passed away.

Alice Rowena (Lunney) Gregory of Westfield, Maine died on August 20, 2010 at the Dexter Health Care Nursing Home in Dexter, Maine at the age of 95. Her daughters Gloria and Amelda were with her when she died. She was predeceased by her husband Donald and daughter Sharon.

Alice was a beloved presence in Westfield, Maine, her life-long home. Alice's house, next to the village post office, was the center of social life in the close-knit community of Westfield. She was everyone's kind, generous and witty Aunt Alice. She was also a loving friend, daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.

Her extended family, from Maine to Florida to Alaska, all mourns her passing. She was an original Maine character, and she is missed.

Alice was the daughter of Thomas Andrew Lunney and Susan Martha (Taylor) Lunney and was born on May 15, 1915 at Easton, Maine. She married Donald Gregory of Westfield, Maine and had three lovely daughters: Gloria Gregory (Bridges), Amelda Gregory (Ross) and Sharon Gregory.

Her father Thomas Lunney emigrated to Easton, Maine from Glassville, New Brunswick in 1900 and married Susan Taylor that year. They had a farm at Riviere de Chute in Easton for many years, but eventually moved their large family to Westfield.

Alice's grandfather William Lunney was born in Ireland in 1821, emigrated to a farm in Waterborough, NB in 1847, and later married Charlotte Drost and settled on a farm in Glassville, NB in 1872. Her Irish grandfather was a descendant of the chieftains of Mhuintir Luinigh in Tyrone, the lords of Magh Ithe in Donegal, the medieval kings of Aileach and the ancient High Kings of Ireland.

Alice's mother Susan Martha (Taylor) Lunney was the youngest child of David Taylor and Martha Stevens of Easton, Maine. Alice's grandfather, David Taylor, served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a farmer in Easton, Maine. Her great grandfather Isaiah Taylor built the first school in Smithfield, Maine. Her great grandmother, Mehitable (Pattee) Taylor of Smithfield, Maine, was a descendant of Sir William Pattee, the physician to England's Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II and a founder of the Royal Academy of Physicians. Alice's great great grandfather Samuel Taylor was the first Quaker minister in Belgrade, Maine and was a noted pomologist. Her great great grandmother, Elizabeth (Crowell) Taylor was a verified Mayflower descendant. Alice's great great uncle, Samuel Taylor of Belgrade, Maine, built the Maine Central Railroad and was its first president. Her great, great, great grandfather, Elias Taylor of Winthrop, Maine, was a patriot of the American Revolution and died serving his country at Fort Ticonderoga, New York in 1777. Alice was also a descendant of Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadleigh, England, one of the great martyrs of the Protestant Reformation, who was burned at the stake as a Protestant heretic by England's Bloody Queen Mary on February 9, 1555.

All of that genealogy and family history information would have given Aunt Alice a good great laugh. The only thing that Alice knew about her mother's humble Taylor family was that they were kind and generous Quakers.

In August 2004, at age 89, Alice travelled with me and other family members to Ireland to visit the places where our Irish ancestors once lived. Her presence was our good luck charm, and blessed our journey in countless ways.

Love Yah, Aunt Alice !

Comment by Timothy Lunney on October 2, 2010 at 2:23pm: Many family members and friends of Alice posted messages of remembrance in the on-line guestbook:

ALICE LUNNEY GREGORY (1915-2010) MEMORIAL GUESTBOOK
August 30, 2010
My thoughts and Prayers are with you both Amy and Al and the rest of the family, God bless you all.
JUNE PAGE,
DEXTER, Maine

August 29, 2010
Al and Amy and Family....
Our thoughts are with you ....Hold the good memories dear and near to your heart...
DENISE DINSMORE
TERRI CRANDLEMIRE
DENISE DINSMORE,
DEXTER, Maine

August 29, 2010
Email received from Smarmore Castle:
I am very sorry to read about Alice's death. On behalf on everyone here, I would like to pass on our condolences to you and the rest of the family. We only met Alice briefly during your visit, so I cannot say that I knew her at all. However, I looked at the guestbook comments made about her by friends and relations who knew her, and she seemed to be someone who was very kind and had a positive outlook on life. I am very pleased that two of the photos you posted on line were taken here. Alice looked very happy and seemed to be enjoying herself in them. It is great that these photos will remind people of her and show that she lived life to the fullest.
Kind regards,
Eamon Mullen
Smarmore Castle
Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland

August 28, 2010
Dear Cousins, Gloria and Amelda,
Some of my fondest memories where during potato picking during the fall in Westfield. Wake up in the morning and hear Alice come and get it new potato hash. Also who could forget the jokes and that infectious laugh. Alice touch the hearts of many, She will be remembered as long as I live as my second mom. Love you all and God bless your Mother and my Aunt.

August 27, 2010
Dear Cousins,Gloria and Amelda,
What a gal she was! Her willingness to share about our Lunney family, our grandparents, and stories about them brought them to life again for me. Our telephone visits were precious. My sisters and I so enjoyed our visits with Aunt Alice in her home, whenever I would go to the County. Our Lunney family journey to Ireland in 2004 is unforgettable. What a privilege it was to share together in the land of our ancestors. I am sorry for your loss and I pray that you will be richly blessed in the festive celebration of your mother's life in Westfield on Saturday.
Gentle blessings,
Your cousin Judith in KY
Judith Merriam,
Russellville, Kentucky

August 27, 2010
It was my honor to be a member of the Gregory family for 52 years. She was a great mother in law, grandmother, a cook, a helper and a story teller. She helped me on the roof shingle her house and our camp. WE put up ceilings, paneling and cedar shingles. She could dance us all under the table and on "occasions" enjoyed the nectar of the Gods. Loved you Blue Hair and will miss you.
AL Ross,
Dexter, Maine

August 25, 2010
So sorry to hear about your mother. Our prayers are with you!
Erwin & Linda Flewelling and Family

August 25, 2010
Always young at heart and enthusiastic about life, Aunt Alice was my "go to" person for family and community affairs. She could follow me anywhere on a dance floor and taught me how to do the Charleston. She was a solid and nurturing Aunt for a lot of us to hold onto. I believe that she was ready for a new beginning and wish her a safe and happy journey. I loved her truly and know that she loved me back.
Dennis Lunney,
Crystal River, Florida

August 25, 2010
I wish to express the heartfelt sympathy for loss of our beautiful Aunt Alice. We will never forget our visits with her and sharing delicious meals and lots of laughs and the most wonderful hugs ever given. We'll miss you terribly Aunt Alice. All our love until we see you again.
Patti and David Collins
Maureen and David Dalachinski
Mike Lunney
Patti and David Collins,
Caribou, Maine

August 25, 2010
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Merle&Betty Antworth,
Westfield, Maine

August 23, 2010
Amelda and Gloria: Our deepest sympathies. Alice was a wonderful person. We shared many great times together. She was my "second Mother" We had great fun going to camp and just visiting together. She had such great knowledge and was always willing to help in any way. She taught me so many things. I knew I could always count on her. I will miss her so very much.
Sadie and Albert

August 23, 2010
Some people are blessed to have one great mother but I was blessed to have two. You will always hold a special please in my heart, forever.
Rose Whittker,
Presque Isle, Maine

August 23, 2010
Westfield will never be the same. Alice was a wonderful lady who always had a story to tell, knew everybody, and wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. She truely will be missed.
Lynn Dube,
Perham, Maine

August 22, 2010
Alice was a great lady, always a joy to be around! So sorry to hear of her passing. Gloria and Almelda my thoughts are with you, Debbie

August 22, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Reta Kinney,
Westfield, Maine

August 22, 2010
We have know Alice for years through her daughter, Gloria and family. She was an absolute delight to know and loved her sense of humor. She was definitely one of life's treasurers! God bless you, Alice, "till we meet again. . . Our love and condolences to your family.
Roger & Olive Clayton
(Madison, NH)

August 21, 2010
Alice was a dear friend who brought laughter and joy into my life. I will miss her greatly.
Michele Green,
Westfield, Maine

August 21, 2010
aunt alice was an amazing woman she had a huge heart for all....i remember going to her house and we could never leave without eating something home made!!!!!that was sooo yummy...she will be missed very very much i love you aunt alice love your niece jodi foster and family love ya sweetie
jodi foster,
houlton, Maine
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August 21, 2010
aunt alice was an amazing woman she had a huge heart for all....i remember going to her house and we could never leave without eating something home-made!!!!!...that was sooo yummy...she will be missed very very much i love you aunt alice love your niece jodi foster and family love ya sweetie.

August 21, 2010
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Vicki Jackson-Aroostook Health Center

August 21, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Betty Jo Spooner,
Presque Isle, Maine

August 21, 2010
The entire Lunney family misses its beloved "Aunt Alice". Alice Rowena Lunney Gregory was an inspiration to us all: generous, witty, feisty and kind, a loyal friend, a good neighbor, a loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother, and a great lady. She blessed the lives of so many people. I was very lucky to be her nephew and friend, and to have shared some of the most memorable moments of my life with her.
Timothy Lunney,
Lake Worth, Florida

August 21, 2010
Great Aunt Alice and I always had great chats when I'd phone her. I spent many evenings with Gramp Earl on her porch. I will miss her, and she will always be in my heart.
Rebecca Mahaney,
Anchorage, Alaska

August 21, 2010
May God bless the family in this time of sorrow. I loved Alice because she was a family friend and stood by Mom, Dad and myself thru thick or thin. I will miss her. She was a great lady.......
Love, Jeff, Sonja and family