Anne Marie Skillin Boxer 'Ree', 49

PORTLAND -Anne Marie Skillin Boxer 'Ree', 49, of Portland died Oct. 29, 2002 at Mercy Hospital after a brief battle with breast cancer.

Anne Marie, better known as 'Ree', was born in Portland and grew up in Bridgton, a daughter of the late Dr. Fredrick W. and Ann Curran Skillin. Ree attended Bridgton schools and graduated from Falmouth High School in 1971. She shared her talents in a variety of positions, her most recent being a pharmaceutical technician and respected colleague at Portland Professional Pharmacy. In her many years of employment, she touched the lives of both her co-workers and clients with her kindness, compassion, and endless sense of humor.

In her early years, Ree spent summers at her family's cottage on Highland Lake in Bridgton. In the winter, she could be found living out her passion for skiing on the slopes at Pleasant Mountain. The Lake's Region area remained a special place in her heart and she enjoyed going home to the people and places she loved.

In 1972, Ree married Jeffrey, 'the Earle' Boxer, the love of her life. He always referred to her as his 'Ree Heart'. The magic began. The mutual devotion they shared for each other was strengthened with the birth of their daughter, Kara Ree. With family being her central focus, Ree loved reading, cards and games, sailing, and was found at many a family gathering leading a rendition of Bruce Springsteen's 'Thunder Road.' Family and friends have fond memories of Mondays at the beach, kettles of spaghetti sauce, weekends in Boothbay, and being the aunt that never said 'no.' She had a way of making all the children in her life feel special - she was known as 'aunt Ree' to nieces, nephews, and her extended family of kids in the Portland area. Ree had a love of the islands, especially Chebeague, the summer homestead of the Boxer family.

Ree's illness was a brief four weeks and she fought with courage and dignity. She longed to watch her granddaughter, Ashleigh May, grow and blossom.

She is survived by her husband, Jeffrey Earle Boxer; her daughter and best friend, Kara Ree Mathisen, very special son-in-law, Warren Mathisen, and her loving granddaughter, Ashleigh May Mathisen of South Portland; a sister, Jody Skillin Taylor of Falmouth; two brothers, Frank Skillin and Fred Skillin, both of Portland; her mother-in-law, Leona Boxer of Portland. She also leaves many aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Curran and Boxer clans and friends from Bar Harbor to Boston. Ree has woven a tapestry of relationships where her friends are family and her family are friends.

Memorial visiting hours will be held Thursday 5-8 p.m. from the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland. A memorial service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. from the Clark Memorial United Methodist Church, 15 Pleasant Ave., Portland. The Rev. David Williams will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, New England Division, Inc., One Main St., Suite 300, Topsham, Maine 04086. Anne Marie Skillin Boxer Jones, Rich & Hutchins 775-3763