Margaret Ellen "Gretchen" Sommer
Did you know Margaret? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
Margaret "Gretchen" Ellen Sommer died on January 28, after a long and full life as a wife, mother, teacher, gardener, investor, and world traveler. She was born on March 8, 1938, and raised in Quincy, Illinois, the daughter of John and Lydia (Hubner) Markey. During her younger years she played piano in Sunday school and loved riding horseback with her best friend, Peggy Bruce. She attended Culver-Stockton College where she met Derek B. Payson and they married on April 4, 1959. After graduation, they moved to Falmouth, Maine, where Gretchen became a biology teacher at the Waynefleet School in the years prior to having children.
While raising her three children, Stephen, David, and Catherine (Keisha), Gretchen was active in and served as president of the Portland chapter of the Junior League. As her children got older, she returned to a full-time career as a history teacher at Portland High School where she taught AP and general U.S. history, as well as classes in government and criminal justice, while also earning her master's degree in U.S. history from the University of Southern Maine. For many years she took students for a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. to learn about our nation's political system. As a volunteer, she also regularly tutored students at the Maine Youth Center for troubled youth.
In the latter chapter of her life, she married Dr. Robert G. Sommer on December 29, 1993. Gretchen and Bob enjoyed traveling in Europe and, during their retirement years, spent winters in Bonita Springs, Florida, and summers at their home in Falmouth. Gretchen took particular delight in welcoming and entertaining both her own and Bob's children and grandchildren to their homes in both Maine and Florida. She also loved tending to her beautiful garden in Falmouth and to her orchids in Florida. Additionally, she was a self-taught and avid investor and enjoyed the monthly meetings of her investors club. In the very last few years of her life, Gretchen lived with Alzheimer's disease at the American House in Estero, Florida, yet all the while lovingly and devotedly cared for by her son, David, and with the faithful companionship of her dog, Petey.
Gretchen is survived by her son, Stephen and daughter-in-law, Catalina, Payson of Harrisburg, PA, David Payson, and Keisha Payson and son-in-law, John Blood, of Brunswick, ME. She is also survived by Bob's children: Karen Sommer, of Arlington, MA, Rob Sommer, of Chicago, IL, John Sommer, of Cape Elizabeth, ME, and Jeff and Dominique Sommer of Yarmouth, ME, Teresa Sommer of Evanston, IL, and Lorri Sommer of Yarmouth, ME. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sofia, Ana, Samuel, and Lucas Payson; Lydia and Henry Blood; Benjamin, Madeline, and Louise Sommer; Jasper and Georgia Sommer; and Mitchell and Winslow Sommer.
A service in celebration of Gretchen's life will be held in Falmouth, Maine, in late spring at a date and time to be announced later by her family. Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Gretchen to the Falmouth chapter of the Maine Audubon Society/Gisland Farm Audubon Center.
Online condolences may be offered at www.FullerNaples.com.