- Esper Frances (Mank) Bagley, 79, of Searsport, passed away Jan. 6, 2007, after losing a battle with cancer, with her family at her side.
She was born Nov. 23, 1927, in Rockland, to Ruth (Reynolds) and Wesley Mank.
A graduate of Waldoboro High School, Class of 1946, she earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in elementary education from Gorham State Teachers College, now the University of Southern Maine, in 1950. She began her 37-year career, teaching 4th through 8th grades, in Boothbay in 1950. In 1960, she began teaching 5th and 6th grades in Searsport Elementary School, then 7th and 8th grade English at Searsport District Junior High School and Middle School, until she retired in 1995. Since that time she and her husband Ed served the community by teaching reading, English and math adult education classes. She was an active member in professional, church and community organizations, including the Maine Education Association, a life member of the National Education Association, Maine Retired Teachers Association and Waldo County Education Association-retired. As a member of the Searsport United Methodist Church, she was a soloist and member the choir, and served as church treasurer for 17 years. She also served on numerous church committees. She was active in the 50-plus member of Albion Grange No. 181 and served as a past master; the Granite Grange, Searsport; the Primrose Chapter Order of the Eastern Star and the Belfast Delta Kappa Gamma-Epsilon Chapter.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Edward Bagley; two daughters, Lynne and her husband, Bruce Duggan of South Portland and Leanne and her husband, Edmund Marshall of Belfast; three sons, Leigh and his wife, Sandra Bagley, Loren Bagley of Searsport and Lon Bagley of Duluth, Minn.; six grandchildren, Amy and her husband, Tim Philbrook, Tony and Katie Bagley, Angela and Greg Tower, all of Searsport, Megan Marshall of Belfast and Kaitlin and Carter Bagley of Duluth, Minn.; six great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, Cory Duggan of Brunswick and Jessica Duggan of Buxton; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents; a brother, Wilfred Mank; nephew, Cary Mank of Waldorf, Md.; her aunt, E. Beulah Mank of Waldoboro, who assumed the role of Esper's mother upon Ruth's death, when Esper was two weeks old.
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