Camden — Avis Louise (Williamson) Rainfrette died in the early hours of Dec. 6, 2016, at Windward Gardens. Avis was born Feb. 28, 1928, in Rockland, and was the daughter of Elizabeth and Carleton Williamson, and the granddaughter of Fred Moore.

Avis grew up in Rockland and graduated from Rockland High School, Class of 1946. She was an avid roller skating enthusiast, oil painter and loved catering. Always on the go, she apprenticed as a beautician but could not stand still long enough to pursue the craft, always preferring to be active.

Among her many talents was a proficiency in music. In May of 1941, Avis was chosen by the Maine Federation of Music to play the selection Fur Elise, which the judges unanimously awarded her with a superior rating. She was invited to participate in Portland at a special concert. Two of her favorite pieces were Flight of the Bumble Bee and Minuet in G. Avis continued to play the piano and the accordion throughout her life until a stroke in 2009 kept her from doing so. She had the ability to play anything without music and her children grew up around the piano in the evenings with Avis playing, her husband John on the ukulele and the kids singing and playing drums with pencils and telephone books.

In 1947, she married John Rainfrette of Lincolnville. During those years, the couple made their home in Camden, where they raised three children and many household pets. The Rainfrette house was always filled with children, bicycles, roller skates, ice skates, kid's forts, neighbors and relatives, especially around the holidays.

During those years, Avis was a member of the Camden Women's Club and she taught Sunday School and assisted with the local Cub Scout group. For many years she and her husband ran the Camden Movie Theater, where they hosted the world premier of Peyton Place in 1959.

In the 1980s, Avis and John moved to Lincolnville, where they rebuilt the old Rainfrette homestead. At that time, Avis opened her own Maine Handcrafts Store, The Patchwork Barn. Despite its rural location, it flourished. Avis worked every day, employed more than 400 Maine handcrafters and shipped worldwide. In 1994 she was named to the Who's Who of Maine Business Women. Avis made many special friends from all over the United States and the world. In 1995, to honor these many friends of the Patchwork Barn, she published a book of recipes from her many customers.

Avis was a member of John Street Methodist Church, the Lincolnville Women's Club, the Camden Senior Citizens Group and the Extension Group of Owls Head. She was always quick to volunteer at her church and when called upon she volunteered at Quarry Hill. She was also a former member of the Rockport Garden Club.

In March of this year, Avis made the move to Windward Gardens after a lifetime of independence. While there she made an entire new group of friends, and even though confined to a wheelchair, she still managed to find fun in life, having her picture taken on a motorcycle, dressing up for Halloween and taking great joy in decorating her room for the seasons. She was especially looking forward to Christmas and passed peacefully away beneath the twinkling lights of her Christmas tree.

Avis leaves behind her three children, her oldest daughter, Cynthia Barlow of Lincolnville; her son, Ron Rainfrette of Lincolnville; and her youngest daughter, Julie Jones and her husband, Arden, of Brewer; a sister, Betty Johnson of South Carolina; and her two beloved grandsons, Cobey Barlow of Rockland and Alex Jones of Hampden; along with three great-grandsons, Zachary, Caleb and Jordan Barlow of Bangor; several nephews, cousins and many dear, dear friends.

She was predeceased by her brother, Donald Moore in 2007; her stepbrother, Francis Davis in 2007; and her husband of 60 years, John Rainfrette in 2008.

In keeping with her wishes, there will be no services and a private burial will take place at the family's earliest convenience. Her many friends are asked to smile when they think of her and know that she treasured each and every one of their friendships.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service.