Shirley Evelyn (Litchfield) Gould

Shirley Evelyn (Litchfield) Gould passed away peacefully but unexpectedly in her sleep in the early morning hours of November 19, 2022. She was 85 years old. Shirley was born on April 17, 1937 in Farmington Maine, the third daughter of Wilson and Arlene (Blanchard) Litchfield. She was one of seven sisters and one brother in the tight-knit Litchfield family.

As the daughter of a farmer’s hired man, she spent her young childhood years on the Laudholm Farm in Wells Maine. She was surrounded by beauty on the farm, spending time at the farm’s beach, in the barns and fields. All the siblings had jobs on the farm, she was a helper in the
Lord’s personal home, and later bottle washer in the dairy. Her mother took care of the children and the house, made Christmas wreaths for sale around the holidays, and during the war, watched the ocean from a lookout tower for German naval ships. She and her siblings shared bedrooms and were silent during dinnertimes, except when one would start a round of giggles at the table.

When Shirley was 14 the family moved to Woodstock, Vermont, followed by Plainfield, NH, and Orford, NH. Shirley went to a different high school in each of her high school years, graduating from Orford High School, where she was encouraged to go to college but opted for work and marriage instead. She met H. Russell Gould from Piermont and after dating for a short time, in July of 1955 Russ asked her if they should get married, and how about next weekend? They were married a week later, and were utterly and completely devoted to each other until Russ’s death in 2012.

Together they ran the Gould’s Country Store and Smokehouse at its original location in the Piermont Village until 1980, when they built a new modern store at the corner of Route 25 and River Road. Shirley and Russ side by side in all aspects of managing a store and employees, customers, purchasing, maintenance, and office work.

At various times Shirley also had hobby side businesses of a basket shop, a free local paper, and antiques shop. She also made all the large store-window posters and store advertising. Her creativity extended to sewing Halloween costumes, clothes, stuffed animals, and all manner of household linens. She could make a quick sketch of almost anything, arrange flowers, dress a table, style hair, refinish and decoratively paint furniture, and design a party location almost anywhere.

Russ and Shirley hosted parties and family gatherings that people still talk about, at their home in the village and “out at the lake.” Most weeks involved at least a small gathering with friends and/or dinner out, sometimes with friends, other times with family only, always with style and excellent food.

Russ and Shirley loved to travel and spend time in warm locations where Russ would swim and sail, and Shirley would relax to the sound of the waves and smell of salt air. She always felt best near the water, and always felt connected to the Maine coast, visiting Wells at least once or twice a year.

Shirley is survived by her three children, Rusty, Leslie (“Lele”) and Alison, who knew her as “Fred;” and their spouses Kay, Bruce, and Brian, respectively; grandchildren Carmen, Morgan, Tiffany, Gabrielle, Elliott, Zachary, Stella, and Elias; siblings Sandy, Pat and Debbie and their spouses and children, and many other nieces and nephews and extended family members, as well as many friends in the local area and beyond. She is predeceased by sisters Beverly, Jackie, Pam, and brother Bucky.
A service will be held at the Congregational Church in Piermont, NH on December 9th at 1pm, followed by a reception at the Lake Morey Inn.

Hale Funeral Home is assisting the family.