Dorothy Michaud

SOUTH CHINA, MAINE Dorothy Luella Michaud died on January 20, 2014, at her home in South China, Maine. The third child of MaryAnne (Morin) and Raymond L. Michaud, Dorothy was born on September 30, 1950 in Millinocket, Maine. She spent her childhood in East Millinocket where she graduated in 1968 from Schenck High School. Her college education began at Iowa State University in 1969 and was completed at the University of Maine at Augusta in 1984, following a 12 year hiatus to raise two children, Melanie L. McAlister-Henderson and Alfred L. McAlister Jr. With a new BA in accounting in hand, supported by an impressive GPA, and a number of years of construction book keeping experience, she began her professional career at Ethan Allen Furniture Company in Burnham. In 1987, Dorothy began work as an accountant at Cives Steel in Augusta, where she worked until November when she retired due to her illness. Dorothy’s craft was accounting, but her acute sense of engineering and building construction caught the eye of senior management. When asked to participate in discussions with a company that was a bit reticent in paying for change orders, Dorothy was instrumental in turning a projected deficit into a substantial profit for the company. For her efforts she was promoted to Estimator working to secure successful bids for the company and eventually to Senior Project Manager supervising and coordinating the construction of the steel framework for numerous multi-story buildings in Boston and throughout New England. Dorothy has the distinction of occupying the most senior management position held by a woman in Cives Corporation. She is also listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. Dorothy was an enthusiastic Red Sox fan and for those attending games with her, the box seats overlooking the opponents on-deck circle was always a memorable experience. Dorothy leaves behind family and friends, including the loves of her life, four grandsons, Dalton Wayne Henderson, John (Jack) Patrick Scanlon, Mason Raymond Henderson, and Henry Paul Chandler-McAlister. Also, her siblings Bernadette A. Gagnon and husband Brian Gagnon, Frederick L. Michaud and partner Jane Andersen, and Louis R. Michaud. She leaves behind special friends include Pat and John Seed, Leslie Taylor, Kathy Johnson Bouchard, Linda Gagne, and Sylvia Michaud. Also surviving, Alfred (Larry) McAlister Sr., the father of Melanie and Alfred. She always remembered her large extended family and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins with whom she shared many memorable moments. The family wishes to acknowledge the caregivers who were with Dorothy and the family in the final days of her life. They made the impossible possible. Particularly the family wants to thank, Rachelle Walsh, Ann McKenna, Kathy Oliver, Lisa Libby, Tina Libby, Robyn Small, Janice Knowles, and Hospice workers Jan, Deb and Lori and special thanks to Dr. Locke at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care. There will be a Celebration of Life at the Governor Hill Mansion, 136 State Street, Augusta, Maine on February 1st, 2014, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peters Catholic Church, 58 Cedar Street, East Millinocket on February 8th, 2014 at 11:00 AM with a burial in the spring where she will be laid to rest with her parents. An announcement of the spring burial will be made at a later date. “I’m not afraid of dying, but I like living a whole lot more.” Dorothy Luella Michaud, November, 2013.