Obituary
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Terri Anne Lilly

Date of Death: June 18, 2025

Date of Birth: September 20, 1945

Biography:

Terrie Lilly, a devoted librarian, loving mother, and lifelong advocate for childhood literacy, passed away peacefully at Andwell Hospice House in Maine. She was 79.

Born in 1945 in Charleston, West Virginia, the daughter of Michald and Hazel Lilly. Terrie grew up with a deep love of books and storytelling. She attended West Virginia University, where she was a proud member of the university’s honors society and nurtured her passion for literature and education. After graduating, she married Larry Williams, and together they raised two daughters, Christy and Sarah.

Terrie began her career as a children’s librarian in Woodbury, New Jersey, where she worked throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her storytelling hours, puppet shows, and creative reading programs left an indelible mark on generations of young readers and their families.

Following her divorce in the late 1980s, Terrie moved to Maine, where she made her home in several communities including Lewiston, Dover-Foxcroft, Caribou, Andover, Rumford, Mexico, and Presque Isle. She held librarian positions across the state, continuing to bring books, joy, and imagination to rural communities.

Terrie is remembered for her warmth, wit, and generosity—traits that endeared her to friends, neighbors, and library patrons alike. She had a deep appreciation for nature, poetry, and the quiet comfort of a well-loved novel.

She is survived by her two daughters: Christy Lynn Winslow, who lives in Northampton, Massachusetts with her husband Bill Winslow and their son, Kai Winslow; and Sarah Williams, a professor at MIT who lives between Boston and New York City. She is also survived by her brother, Michael Lilly, who resides outside of Los Angeles, California, and who lovingly cared for her over the past three decades with unwavering devotion.

A private remembrance will be held by the family. Terrie spent her final years at Montello Manor in Lewiston, Maine, where she received kind and attentive care. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Montello Manor in appreciation for the compassion they showed her.