Brewer - Phyllis Eva B. Hanscom, 74, originally of Orrington, passed away peacefully at the Maine Veterans' Home on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, with her family by her side. She was born June 15, 1949, in Bangor, the daughter of Paul and Charlotte Byther.
A graduate of Brewer High School, she went on to obtain a B.S. in Education, Master's of Education, and Certificate of Advanced Studies in Literacy from the University of Maine. She loved teaching children how to read, and her teaching career spanned multiple schools, in Bucksport, Dedham, Bangor, and Brewer. Her dedication to teaching children extended beyond the classroom and her work as a Reading Recovery teacher, she founded and ran the Sunrise Daycare Center in Orrington, worked at the Penobscot Preschool Project, and shared her knowledge with other teachers as a literacy coach and teacher leader. She also served at Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, the Bangor Homeless Shelter, and the Maine Veterans' Home, and as leader of the children's ministry at her church.
Phyllis is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Gary of Brewer, ME; her son, Christopher and his wife, Carol, of Los Angeles, CA; her daughter, Kate Anderson and husband, Jamie, of Amherst, ME; granddaughters, Alice, Stella, and Eugenie Hanscom; brother, Bernard Byther of Bangor, ME; as well as many other members of her extended family and friends.
Visiting hours will be held at The River Church, 146 Center Street, Bangor, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. Services will follow at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, 354 Hogan Rd., Bangor, ME 04401, or the Maine Alzheimer's Association, 383 US-1#2C, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.