CAMDEN — Audrey Grassow Gross, 86, of Camden, died Jan. 4, 2013, at Anderson Inn in Camden. Born in Camden Nov. 23, 1926, she was the daughter of Frank H. and Olive E. (Long) Grassow. She grew up in Hope, attending elementary school there, and was a Camden High School graduate, class of 1944. Following high school, Audrey attended nursing school at Boston Children's Hospital, where she received her degree as a registered nurse. She met Lester F. Gross and they were married Feb. 14, 1949.

Audrey looked forward to the family fishing trips at Moosehead Lake for many years and eventually she and Lester built a camp there for all to enjoy. During their retirement years, they traveled and played golf. Audrey was an avid golfer, enjoyed her many outings with "the girls" of the Rockland Golf Club, where she served on the board, and with the Maine Women's Golf Association.

As a teenager, Audrey served her community early on by selling Savings (War) Bonds. She was a very active volunteer with a local group at the Camden Outing Club helping with many fundraising dinners. The group was instrumental in gaining support for the first ski lift to be built at the Camden Snow Bowl in 1965. She served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Cemetery Committee for the town of Camden; as well as the Camden Library, Pen Bay Medical Center and the Farnsworth Art Museum Gift Shop in her later years.

A dear friend to her many friends, Audrey enjoyed keeping very busy. She was once described by her mother as being "tougher than a boiled owl."

Her greatest role in life was being a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Surviving is her son, Lawrence F. Gross and his wife, Kathleen, of Camden; two grandchildren, Erika Lougee and her husband, Rodd, of Winterport and Christopher Gross and his wife, Kerry, of Fairfield; her great-grandchildren, Christina Lougee, Parker Gross and Kennedy Gross; her brother-in-law, Stephen Gross and his wife, Grace, of Camden; five nephews and their families; two foster sisters, Margaret Morse and her husband, Joel, of Hope, and Darlene Barrows and her husband, Dave, of Lincolnville.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church in Camden with the Rev. Richard Malo officiating. Spring interment will be held in Seaview Cemetery in Rockport.

If desired, memorial donations in her memory may be made to P.A.W.S., P.O. Box 707, Rockport, ME 04856.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the Gross family by visiting their book of memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Camden.