SCARBOROUGH — Gertrude “Gert” Mae Carver Pooler, 84, died Aug. 8 at her home of 60 years, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born Jan. 28, 1931, one of eight children of Perley W. Carver Sr. and Mildred M. Carver. She grew up in Westbrook, where she attended the Valentine Street School with her lifetime friend, Jean Gallant. Gertrude delivered newspapers, and then left school at age 15 to help provide for her family by working at a Woolworth’s Department Store.

At 17, she met for a blind date with Frank Pooler, of Scarborough. The couple married on Oct. 7, 1950. In addition to working as a homemaker and helping raise four children, Gertrude tended a garden and canned what she grew to help provide for her family. Later, she also worked for many years as a housekeeper for several residents of Prouts Neck.

A lifelong member of the Scarborough Free Baptist Church, Pooler was active in American Baptist Women and the Pioneer Girls, sang in the church choir, served as financial secretary and treasurer for a church program, and participated in the church’s reading club.

She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, ceramics, visiting the family camp in Upton, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pooler was predeceased by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Gail Key; three sisters, Ruth Hanson, Beverly Collomy and Cheryl Fuller; and two brothers, Perley Carver Jr. and William “Bubby” Carver.

She is survived by her children, Glen W. Pooler and his wife, Karen, of Scarborough, Gary W. Pooler, of Gorham, and Crystal Merry and her husband, Stephen, of North Waterboro; her sisters, Marilyn O’Brien, of East Baldwin, and Shirley Rouse, of Westbrook; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family extends thanks to Dr. Chiara Batteli and her associates, the many nurses of the fifth floor of Gibson Pavilion, Suzanne of Amedisys, and Allison of Hospice of Southern Maine, as well as family and friends for their help and support.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m., at the Scarborough Free Baptist Church, 55 Mussey Road, Scarborough. A celebration of life will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Scarborough Free Baptist Church.

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