Brunswick- Patricia J Ames, 82, of 12 Orchard Lane, Bath passed away on Monday April 25. She was born in Wiscasset, Maine (1933). She was the daughter of Orris and Ruth Jordan Ames. She graduated from Morse High School (Class of 1950), and from Gorham State Teachers College (Class of 1954). Her Masters and Doctoral degrees were completed at the University of Maine, Orono (1961, 1977).

For 42 years Dr. Ames taught secondary English and Social Studies at Berwick High School, Bath Jr. High School, in England for the Department of Defense, and at Morse High School. In Bath she was Social Studies Department Head and 7-12 Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator. She taught on the adjunct faculties of St. Joseph’s College in Standish and several campuses of the University of Maine. She presented staff development workshops in Social Studies for teachers across the State. She was a presenter-consultant for the Maine Studies Institute. For many years she was Activities Director for Camp Ridgeway on Clary Lake and an accredited official for Maine women’s basketball.

Dr. Ames was a lifetime-member of the National Education Association and the Maine Education Association. She was a member of the National Council for the Social Studies and a long-time member of the Maine Council for the Social Studies Executive Board. She served several terms as MCSS President, and for 10 years chaired the annual MCSS conferences. She was honored by the MCSS with life-membership and an award for Professional Excellence. She served many years as a Director of the Bath Housing Authority, the Merrymeeting Community Action Agency, and the Plant Memorial Home. She was a founding member of the Maine Maritime Museum, a former member of the Bath Historical Society, and current member of the Lower Kennebec Regional Land Trust, the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, and the Family Jordan. Widely traveled, she presented numerous slide shows and travelogues for school-community groups. At Morse High School she was instrumental in establishing the School-Community Liaison Council, the “Mainsail” Award, and the Distinguished Teacher Award given annually at graduation. For more than 60 years she was a faithful member of the Corliss St. Baptist Church. Before leaving the church in 2005, she wrote “Keeping the Covenant”, a history of the church and its people.

Dr. Ames was a Fullbright Scholar in the Republic of China (1981) and in Pakistan (1983). She received a Trustee Fellowship at the University of Maine (1961) and two Sustained Superior Performance Awards (1962, 1963) from the Department of Defense. She was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Honor Society at UMO (1977) and was a recipient of the “Mainsail” Award (1991) given by the students of Morse High School to acknowledge unusual service to the school and community.

She especially enjoyed children, traveling, playing trumpet, boating, reading, and the many summers spent at her camp on Damariscotta Lake.

Dr. Ames is survived by a brother; Phillip Ames & his wife of Florida, a two sisters; Carol Mcbride of Bath, and Linda Verbinski of Florida; as well as several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at David E Desmond and Son funeral home, 638 High St, Bath at 11am on Friday April 29. Burial will follow at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Auburn Maine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ames Distinguished Teacher Fund at Morse High School, 826 High St., Bath, Maine. To share your thoughts and condolences with the family please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com