FALMOUTH — Charlotte Maxine (Douglass) Cote, 89, died April 5 in Naples, Fla. 

Born in Portland on Nov. 26, 1920, she was the daughter of Roscoe H. and Minnie Whittemore Douglass.  She had a joyful childhood growing up in Yarmouth, and graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1939.

In 1942 she received a teacher’s certificate from Gorham Normal School, beginning her lifelong passion for education and learning. She taught in Yarmouth as an elementary school and substitute teacher while raising her children. 

After raising her children, she went back to college and completed her bachelor’s degree in 1965 from Gorham State Teachers College. Subsequently she began teaching full-time, and spent 18 years as a fourth grade teacher at Plummer-Motz School in Falmouth.

In 1973, she proudly received her master’s degree in education from the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham, the same day her daughter received her master’s degree and her son received his bachelor’s degree in education.

On July 17, 1943, she married Robert Benjamin Cote of Falmouth in a military ceremony at Fort Williams Chapel in Cape Elizabeth. During World War II he served in the South Pacific with the U.S. Navy while she served as a recognition observer for the Army Air Forces in Portland. 

After his safe return four years later, they built a home overlooking Mussel Cove in Falmouth where they raised their children and lived for the past 63 years. 

Devoted to her family above all else, she retired from teaching in 1982 to care for her two granddaughters.  She spent much of her retirement attending every school and sporting event her granddaughters participated in.

A mother to all, she opened her home and heart to many children over the years.

Adventurous in spirit, she greatly enjoyed traveling and developed close friendships all over the world.

Her other enjoyments included gardening, American history, swimming, boating, caring for her dogs, attending Lifeline classes at USM. She was an avid baker who was famous for her pies. 

She also greatly enjoyed researching her family lineage and became a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in 2002.    

She retained her sharp wit, humor and love of family and friends until her death.

Surviving are her husband of 67 years, Robert B. Cote of Falmouth; her son Ronald Cote and his wife Linda of Falmouth, and her daughter Pamela Potter and her husband David of Falmouth; two granddaughters, Cassandra Cote Grantham and her husband Andrew of Portland, and Chelsea Michelle Cote of Falmouth. 

A private service will be held on April 17.

Arrangements are by Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. 

A video collage of her life may be viewed and a guestbook can be signed online at lindquistfuneralhome.com.

Memorial condolences may also be sent to her family at 21 Old Mill Road in Falmouth.

Memorial donations may be made to commemmorate her love of learning to Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth, ME 04105. 

Sidebar Elements

---

Cote