SEARSPORT – Esper Bagley, respected educator and family matriarch, passed away Jan. 6, 2007, after losing a battle with cancer. She was able to spend the last few weeks of her life at the family home in Searsport, with her husband of 54 years, Edward, her family and friends at her side. Esper 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. Esper began her storied 37-year career, teaching 4th through 8th grades, in Boothbay in 1950. After two years, she stopped working to start her family, giving birth to five children. After moving to Searsport, she began teaching again in 1960. She taught 5th and 6th grades at Searsport Elementary School for eight years, then taught 7th grade English at Searsport District Junior High School and Middle School, until she retired in 1995. Since that time, she and Ed served the community by teaching reading, English and math adult education classes. Esper was an active member in professional, church and com-munity 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 of 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 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. Esper was predeceased by her parents; brother, Wilfred Mank; nephew, Gary 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. She is survived by her husband, 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, Matthew, Brooke and Drew Bagley, Ryker Tower and Mitchell and Spencer Philbrook, all of Searsport; two stepgrandchildren, Cory Duggan of Brunswick and Jessica Duggan of Buxton; cousin, Patricia Mank of Warren; sister-in-law, Connie Mank and her son, Bryant Mank, from Ocala, Fla., and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation hours will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Young Funeral Home, Sears-port. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Searsport United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Searsport United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 169, Searsport, ME 04974; Searsport District High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 444, Searsport, ME 04974 or Waldo County Home Health and Hospice, 119 Northport Ave., Belfast, ME 04915. A headstone will be placed in the family plot at Elmwood Cemetery, Searsport.
ESPER FRANCES (MANK) BAGLEY
