Jacquelyn Elizabeth Knight Aubrey, Kenduskeag, ME

Jacquelyn Elizabeth Knight Aubrey, 79, cherished wife of Byron E. Aubrey, passed away surrounded by love in her home October 15, 2019, after a brief battle with cancer.

Jackie was born in Newburgh, Maine on May 2, 1940 to Paul M. and Georgie (Bennett) Knight.
From her earliest years she demonstrated her strong work ethic, determination, and independent spirit. Her first paid job was at age 11, where she earned $2.50 per week as janitor for the one-room school house she walked to in Newburgh. Among her responsibilities was to unlock the school and build the wood fire prior to the teacher's arrival each morning. Jackie proudly held that job for nearly two years.
Because the family moved frequently during her childhood Jackie attended various schools, including Brewer High. She graduated valedictorian of her senior class from Carmel High School in 1958. She always downplayed this, being it was a small class.

She lived in Dixmont for the span of her first marriage to Gerald Gould with whom she had three daughters and helped to raise a niece and nephew.

Jackie was never one to be limited by traditional gender roles. To forge a better life for her and her children she completed a course in machine tool at EMVTI and landed a job at General Electric under Affirmative Action. She was among the very first female machine tool operators ever hired at GE, Bangor. During her 25 year tenure at GE she held many manufacturing and quality control positions. She also met and married the love of her life, Byron Aubrey.

Jackie won a spot in the 1999 Moose Lottery, and bagged a moose in the Jackman area. She enjoyed many outdoor activities from Motorcycling, 4-Wheeling, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, kayaking, and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.

She was a passionate craftsman, and after purchasing her house in Kenduskeag in 1975 she gradually and single-handedly transformed it into the beautiful home it is today. She is known by many as a talented carpenter, and enjoyed woodturning and other woodcrafts. Jackie also loved animals and has been involved in supporting various horse rescues. Another passion was genealogy, and she spent time restoring and caring for family cemetery stones.

Jackie was a member of the Kenduskeag Cemetery Committee, Eastern Maine Woodturners Group, and other groups over her life.

Jackie's love was fierce, and her 'family' extended far beyond bloodline.

In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her daughters, Brenda Gould and husband, John Haney of West Paris, ME, Dianne and husband, Steven Travaglini, Sr of Pelham NH, and Lorrie Knight-Tuthill and husband, Arthur Tuthill, Jr. of Wilton NH; A grandson who is more of a son, Stephen Garib and wife, Lindsay of Corinth; step-daughters, Kathy Vanaria of Newburgh, and Lesa Aubrey of Parsons, WV; grandchildren, Danielle and husband, Tim Place, Steven and wife, Julia Travaglini, Cassandra Travaglini, Anthony Travaglini and his partner, Jian Macasaquit, Emily and Jessica Garib, Jerry Dow, Danny and wife, Heidi Dow; great-granddaughter, Sadie Elizabeth Place, great-grandsons, Logan, Owen, and Austin Dow, and Vincent Naylor; niece, Pamela (Gould) Meehan; special friends who thought of her as a second mother; sisters-in-law, Judy Knight, Donna Nickerson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and family.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Wayne and Harlan; a special cousin, Nelson Sanborn; nephew, Allen Gould; dear friend, Forrest Rogers; several other dear friends and family.