CAMDEN — Bessie Hardie Hersom, 87, died Dec. 22, 2014, at Pen Bay Medical Center. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Feb. 22, 1927, she was the daughter of Alexander and Bessie (Hoak) Hardie.

After graduating from high school in 1945, she earned Master of Arts in library science from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon). She later received her teaching certificate from the University of Maine at Orono. Bessie moved to Maine with her parents in 1955, and on Dec. 19, 1957, she married Robert N. Hersom in Camden.

In 1958, Bessie and Bob built a new home on Willow Street, where they raised their children.

Bessie worked as a children's librarian for the Pittsburgh Public Library and hosted a twice-weekly radio show featuring readings for children. After moving to Camden, she taught briefly in both Lincolnville and Camden before taking a break from employment to, along with Bob, raise daughters Bess Ellen and Robin. Later in life she worked as a personal secretary for Albert Chatfield, as a private librarian for Eric H. L. Sexton and as a research librarian for Marine Colloids in Rockland.

She contributed greatly to the success of her husband's business as well, working with the finances and keeping the trains running on time.

"Retiring" in the late 1980s, for 10 years each fall Bessie and Bob sailed their 32-foot sloop from Camden to Man O' War, Bahamas, where they enjoyed spending the winter months, returning in the spring to reconnect with family and to hike the Camden Hills and Mt. Katahdin. The human forerunner to LORAN, Bessie could be found at the bow of the boat allegedly keeping Bob out of trouble.

Following the Bahamas years, Bessie and Bob set out each fall to camp and otherwise explore the American south and southwest, always returning with many stories of the truly interesting people they had met. In addition to travel, she enjoyed camping, canoeing, making new friends, reading and sewing. The times spent with her three grandchildren were always fun and filled with adventure.

Over the past two years Bessie was given superb, loving comfort by the staff at Woodlands Memory Care of Rockland, for which her family is grateful.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Robert N. Hersom of Camden; two daughters, Bess Ellen Dexter and her husband, Robert, of Plant City, Fla., and Robin Jordan and her husband, Charles Jr., of Rockland; three grandchildren, Mackenzie Jordan and Jeffrey Jordan, both of Portland, and Garrett Dexter of Plant City, Fla.; two nieces, Mary Heathcote and her husband, Wally, of Union, and Carol Goodridge of North Carolina; her great-niece, Karen Martin; her great-nephew, Tom Goodridge and his wife, Janet, and their son, Jack; and her great-nieces MacKenzie and Caroline Martin.

She was predeceased by her brother, Alexander Hardie; her sister-in-law, Mary Helen Hardie; and her brother-in-law Merrill Hersom.

Calling hours will be held Friday, Jan. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St. in Camden. A memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held Saturday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m., at the First Congregational Church UCC, 55 Elm St. in Camden, with the Rev. Susan Stonestreet officiating. Spring burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Camden.

If desired, memorial gifts may be made to the Pope Memorial Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841 or to the Alzheimer's Association of Maine, 383 U.S. Route 1, #2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.