SCARBOROUGH – It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Carol-Ann Mary (Houghton) Hall, 86. She passed away peacefully on Feb. 9, 2021 at the Maine Medical Center in Portland from a brief illness.

Born in Atholville, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1934, she was a sports enthusiast from an early age, playing hockey, basketball, and starting a life-long love of golf.

Although initially interested in the rambunctious experiments of high school chemistry, in 1952, she began studying economics at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where she met her devoted husband of 38 years, George E.F. Hall; they married in 1962.

Graduating in 1956 from St. Francis Xavier with a bachelor of economics degree, (Magna Cum Laude) Carol-Ann went on to earn a master of economics degree from Boston College in 1957, one of the few women in her class. Later in life, while raising a family, she completed doctoral studies at the University of New Hampshire.

For most of her life, she split her time between raising her two children and teaching economics at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, working alongside her husband in various committees. Carol-Ann was a fierce advocate for employee rights and represented the faculty union with the board of trustees. After long successful teaching careers they both retired in 1997. Their plans of traveling the world were cut short with the passing of George in 2001.

Some of her fondest memories and dearest friendships are from her brief time spent working as a teacher in New York City and running an ice cream shop on Nantucket. Her friend Jessie Morris was especially close.

Throughout her life she was a voracious reader, especially mysteries. She enjoyed teaching, golfing, traveling and birdwatching. She cherished her time with friends at the golf course and daily trips to the Scarborough Marsh to count the boats in the harbor and watch birds along the way. Fiercely independent, she was a strong advocate for her health and lived her life the way she wanted to. The family offers thanks to the caring medical team from Maine Health who cared for her over the years and in particular Dr. Eric Mukai for his patience and excellent care.

She was a caring and generous mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son, Thomas J. Hall and his wife Kerry Lee of Scarborough and daughter, Mary-Ann M. Hall and her husband José A. Zapata of Mexico. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Brendan, Emma, Julián and Nicolás.

Carol-Ann was predeceased by her parents, Ted and Eva (Rossignol) Houghton; and brother, William Houghton.

She is survived by her sister, Janet George and husband Bruce, and John Houghton and his late wife Mayella and her sister-in-law, Louise Houghton.

A gentle soul with a sharp intellect, she will be sorrowfully missed by her family and friends. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.duncan-graves.com.