CUMBERLAND — Bertha E. (Cram) Davis, 82, passed away unexpectedly at a Florida Hospital on May 25.

Born to Frank and Mary Cram in Yarmouth on April 15, 1930, she was the tenth child of 12. At a young age the family moved to Windham, where she attended local schools. Bertha married her first husband Phillip Riley in 1948, moved to Gorham and gave birth to her daughter, Elsie, and later her son, Thomas.

She moved her family to Portland where she married Phillip Davis in 1963. After moving to Windham, she worked at B&M and as a seamstress at Health Tex. Davis enjoyed RVing with friends and family and especially delighted in camping with her grandchildren. She was a lifetime member of the Good Sam RV Club. In 1980, she became the worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Windham. She was also a past member of the Rebekah Pinea chapter. Upon Phillip’s retirement in 1985 the two of them traveled extensively, exploring the U.S., Canada, and Eastern Europe. She was a snow bird, spending the winters in Florida and traveling back to Maine for the summers, until Phillip’s passing in 1993.

Bertha remained in Maine for a short while and eventually went back to Florida where she married George Boghdan, a longtime friend. After George’s death she meet Dennis Rousseau who was recently widowed, and the two of them became fast friends and enjoyed each other’s company. Dennis shared her love of travel and the two of them visited all 48 continental states.

She was predeceased by her spouses Phillip Riley, Phillip Davis, and George Boghdan; her siblings Sumner, Meldon, Herbert, Zodelle, Esta, Priscilla, Walter, and Charles; her stepson Phillip Riley II; and a stepdaughter Diane Nickels.

Bertha is survived by her daughter Elsie M. Daggett and her husband, Charles, of Buxton; son, Thomas E. Riley and his wife, Kathy, of Port Richey, Fla.; sisters Beulah Mason, of Fryeburg, Edith Arey, of Portland, and Elsie Haskell, of Windham; her companion Dennis Rousseau, of Zephyrhills, Fla.; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.  
 
An interment service will be held at the Hillside Cemetery in Gorham on Saturday, July 14, 2 p.m. followed by a celebration of her life at the home of Tim and Mary Cummings, 150 Longwoods Road, Cumberland. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Elsie Daggett, P.O. Box 446 Buxton, ME 04093.

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Bertha Davis


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