Eliot- Sarah O. " Sally " Lewin, 82 of Eliot, died on April 23, 2022 at York Hospital following a period of failing health. She much appreciated the help she received in her recent years from Eliot Baptist Church members and York Hospital staff.
Sally was born in Portsmouth New Hampshire in 1939, one of eight children to the late Richard H. And Lois H. (Milliken) Oeser and was raised in Rye, NH. After primary school and graduating from Portsmouth High School she attended art school and Jordan Marsh Executive Training Program .
Sally enjoyed many years as a textile buyer at Jordan Marsh, Lane Bryant, and their parent companies Allied Stores and AMC Stores, managing up to fifty five million dollars in sales annually. She was assistant store manager at two Filenes locations. She commuted to Boston from Rye for several years and eventually moved to New York City as she moved up in the parent company. She returned to the Seacoast, settling in Eliot. She continued her merchandising career with DAMART in Rollinsford NH, which along with her time at the earlier stores, took her all over the world including the Far East and Europe, making many connections throughout.
She was a dedicated public servant for decades both in her home town of Eliot and York County, serving many years on the Personal Advisory Committee to the Eliot Selectmen, Eliot Budget Committee, Eliot Police Chief Selection Committee, William Fogg Homestead Restoration Committee, Eliot Recycling Committee, York County Budget Committee, and County Jail Advisory Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board of Southern Maine Agency on Aging, and the York Hospital Board of Trustees and Board of Directors. She served on the Eliot and York County Republican Committees for many years.
Her experience made her a wonderful advocate for the unheard. She was elected to the Maine House of Representatives for the 148th District and served from 2002 until 2010 when she termed out. She was proud of her time "Doing the People's Work", serving with distinction on the House and Human Services Committee, Maine Hospital Licensing Board, Committee on Substance Abuse and many others. Sally was honored in 2008 to receive the Legislative Advocacy Award from the Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine. She also was an active member for many years in the South Berwick Rotary Club, being the first person members and guests saw as they arrived for meetings, with a hearty greeting and smile.

Her proudest accomplishment though was being the " Favorite Aunt" to her many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was always glad to bake for every event, cater a wedding or offer an ear to talk to and give sound advice on nearly any topic. She will be dearly missed by so many that knew and loved her.
She is survived by her brothers Richard Oeser and his wife Lucy, Robert Oeser, David Oeser and his wife Lauren, Stephen Oeser and his wife Lorrie, and her sister Nancy Shapleigh, as well as her beloved sixteen nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Paul Oeser and James Oeser, and a nephew.
Friends are invited to a remembrance and celebration service at the Eliot Baptist Church on August 8, 2022 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to Footprints Pantry in Kittery ME (https://www.footprintsfoodpantry.org/donate ) or Eliot Baptist Church (https://www.eliotbaptistchurch.com/giving/). Online condolences may be made by visiting www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com .