Jonesport, Maine - Myrna Rae Bouchey of Jonesport, ME, passed on to a new life on December 14, 2023, in Machias.

Myrna, beloved spouse of Barbara Hope for forty years, was born in Anaheim, CA, on December 26, 1937, to Lucille and Roy Bouchey. She was predeceased by her parents, brother, and sister. Myrna had a childhood dream of being a cowboy and owning a ranch. Instead, she attended the University of California at Berkeley where she earned a BA in English in 1959. She went on to earn an MA in English at San Francisco State in 1965 and a PhD in English at the University of New Mexico in 1971. She taught at several colleges before arriving at the University of Maine at Machias in 1972 where she taught for twenty-five years before retiring in 1997.

Myrna inspired generations of students at UMM with her rigorous teaching and critical thinking. She championed diversity in the study of English, teaching African American literature, Poetry from the Margins, Women Writers, World Literature: ancient and modern, and much more. She was an early feminist voice on campus, in and outside of the classroom. Myrna's intelligence, compassion, hard work, clear voice and integrity earned her admiration, affection, and respect across campus from students and colleagues alike.

In her personal life, Myrna loved nature, was a practicing Buddhist, concerned community member, and poet. Her chapbook, A Gift of Poems, appeared in the spring of 2023. Myrna had a gift for friendship and laughter. She will be sorely missed by her beloved Barbara, her many friends, and her cats.

A memorial service in Myrna's honor will be held next spring.