FREEPORT – Hilda Coskery, a longtime owner of the former Flying Point Campground in Freeport, who worked as the scorekeeper at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for 25 years, died on March 30. She was 86.

Ms. Coskery owned and operated the campground for 23 years. It was formerly located on Flying Point Road and had roughly 50 campsites.

Linda Cole, the youngest of her three children, said it was a popular campground that drew tourists from all over the country. She retired in 2003.

“She made wonderful friends,” said Cole, who lives in Freeport. “She loved the work there and dealing with the public and the campers.”

Ms. Coskery grew up in Freeport and graduated from Freeport High School in 1944.

She was married briefly and lived in Bowdoin. A few years later, she returned to Freeport with her three small children.

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For many years, Ms. Coskery worked at Burnham & Morrill in Portland.

She was also an executive secretary at Portland City Hall for a short time.

Cole said she was a loving and supportive mother, who worked hard to give her children a good life.

“She was very concerned with keeping the family together and seeing that we were active in school,” Cole said. “We have very pleasant memories.”

Ms. Coskery had a passion for stock car racing. She wintered in Daytona, Fla., and attended the Daytona 500 for the past 42 years.

She was also active in the Maine State Stock Car Racing Association and ran the scoreboard at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for 25 years. Cole said she was a dedicated scorekeeper.

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“She was very faithful,” her daughter said. “Every week, she was there working. She made a lot of friends there as well.”

Some of her hobbies included sewing and quilting.

In addition to her children, she is survived by her longtime friend, Roland Foster of Freeport.

Ms. Coskery had numerous health issues. She suffered with asthma for decades and developed congestive heart failure more recently.

“She was a very strong person. She fought very hard through her health issues and held on as long as she could,” Cole said.

She died March 30 at the Halifax Medical Center in Port Orange, Fla., with family and friends by her side.

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“As hard as it was, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Cole said. “We think she was a super mom, and she will be missed by so many people.”

 

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:

mcreamer@pressherald.com

 


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