Oakland – It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josephine Bacon Smith, age 96, on December 20, 2024. Josephine was born on October 12, 1928, in Mercer on the Bacon Homestead with a midwife, to parents Joseph D. Bacon and Thelma Angeline (Lebaron) Bacon. She attended local schools in Mercer and graduated from New Sharon High School in 1946 as the valedictorian. She then went on to further her education at the Skowhegan Business School, graduating in 1948. She lived in Mercer where she met her husband, Myron A. Smith, and they were married on October 25, 1952. They made their home in Mercer until 1968, when they moved to Oakland. Josephine's first job was as a teacher in Mercer, with her mother, where Josephine taught grades 1-4 and her mother taught grades 5-8, for two years. She then worked at Norwock Shoe Company for 14 years as the secretary to Harold Alfond. She then worked for several local insurance companies until she retired to provide childcare in her home for several years. After a stint of traveling with her husband, she started working at RSU 18 as a substitute and then in the lunch program. She worked part-time at the Heritage gift shop in Oakland for several years and at the Augusta Civic Center in the catering and concession departments for several years until she was ninety-one. Josephine was a member of the Oakland Sidney United Methodist Church for over 50 years, the Sandy River Grange in Mercer #89, the Eastern Star in Norridgewock, Mercer Old Home Days Committee, and the United Methodist Women's Group. Josephine loved doing all kinds of crafts, cooking, camping, and especially spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She and Myron lived in Deland, Florida in the winters for several years and then sold their home and started traveling in their motorhome. They traveled across the country, a favorite trip was to Alaska. They were seasonal campers at Yonder Hill Jellystone Campground in Madison for 15 years with both Gwen and Brian; Robert, Cindy, Caitlin, and family; and Megan and Nick, and family having sites there too! Many a weekend of family time was spent with each other doing activities as well as around the campfires telling stories. In their early years, Josephine and Myron would go dancing every Saturday night with friends. They really enjoyed doing the polka. They also loved to snowmobile during the winter with the family. There were many fun-filled weekends on the trails, always stopping to cook burgers over the open fire and just enjoying nature. Josephine was predeceased by both her parents, her husband of 70 years Myron, and her brother James W. Bacon. She is survived by daughter, Gwendolyn (Brian) Thebarge; son, Robert (Cindy) Smith; siblings, Janiece B. Oblak, Georgia W. Pooler; sisters-in- law, Rosalie R. Bacon and Beverly Bulmer; brothers-in-law Lee (Charlene) Smith and James (Dawn) Smith; grandchildren, Megan (Nick) Shorey, Caitlin (Shawn Dube) Smith, Carleton (Mikala) Smith; seven great-grandchildren who called her "Mimi", Ava, Brady, Calhan (CJ) Shorey, Dawson and Addison Dube, Kayden and Liam (arriving March) Smith; and also many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Oakland Sidney United Methodist Church, 14 W School St in Oakland. The burial will be in the spring at Lewis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mercer Meeting House Association, 148 Rome Rd, Mercer, ME 04957. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Somerset Valley Remembrance Center, 19 Washburn Lane, Skowhegan, ME. The family would like to thank the staff of Lakewood Continuing Care Center, especially from Moonlight Bay, who took such good care of Mom in her last days.