Shirley Elizabeth Verrill

SCARBOROUGH – Shirley Elizabeth Verrill, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and devoted servant of the Lord, peacefully passed away on Dec. 16, 2025, at the Gosnell House in Scarborough, at the age of 98.

She was born on Jan. 25, 1927, in South Portland, the daughter of Carl V. and Gladys L. (Cousins) Thurber. Shirley attended North Pownal schools and graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1944. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with the FBI in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a stenographer.

After returning to Maine, she worked in the financial office at the Pownal State School, where she met her future husband. She married Randall B. Verrill in 1948. Together they built a home and farm buildings, raising cattle and broilers. Shirley was a devoted homemaker and was actively involved in her husband’s business endeavors. She served as treasurer and bookkeeper for Cumberland Grain Company and was truly a “Jill of all trades.”

Whenever her husband needed help, Shirley could be found driving truck, raking hay, or cleaning apartments. She also worked in the butcher shop when her husband and father-in-law raised turkeys on the Verrill farm in Cumberland.

Shirley maintained a large vegetable garden each summer and preserved fruits and vegetables through canning and freezing to sustain the family through the winter months.

Shirley served on the North Yarmouth Rescue Unit and worked closely with the dispatcher and compiled a directory for the North Yarmouth Fire Dept. For many years, she also read water meters and handled the bookkeeping for the North Yarmouth Water District.

Shirley was a faithful member of Victory Christian Tabernacle and was known as a devoted Bible scholar. She enjoyed traveling, ice skating, swimming, genealogy, painting rocks, doodling with her granddaughter, feeding the crows, raising many baby raccoons, puzzles and playing Scrabble. Shirley lovingly knit many sweaters for her grandchildren and was known for her warm sense of humor and merry spirit that drew people to her.

She was a member of the Pownal Historical Society, where she assisted with research for the new history center. Shirley was also an avid bottle collector, with a special interest in Poland Water bottles and Poland Spring memorabilia.

After retiring, Shirley and her husband spent their winters in the warm climate of St. Cloud, Fla., where they built a new home. They tended an orange and grapefruit grove and enjoyed riding their trikes throughout St. Cloud, Fla. every day.

Shirley was predeceased by her husband, Randall; her parents; and her brothers George, Kenneth, Arthur and Marvin.

She is survived by her son, William Verrill and his wife Carolyn, her daughter, Susan Fuller and her husband Andrew; her grandsons Jeffrey Verrill, Stephen Verrill, and Randall Copp, her granddaughter, Rachael Marianelli; and seven great-grandchildren.

In the spring we will hold a graveside memorial service.