Victoria Luella (née Coster) Lloyd, known in the community as Vicky or “Miss Vicky”, passed away Sunday, July 24th, 2022. Vicky died peacefully at her daughter’s home with family by her side. In the weeks leading up to her death, she was lovingly surrounded by family and close friends.
Born on May 19, 1941, in Sacramento, California, Vicky was the only child of Oril Rose (Dodge) and Granville B. Coster. She graduated from McClatchy High School, and attended Sacramento College, where she studied philosophy.
When she was eight, Vicky began studying dance. She excelled, learned many genres and studied with renowned teachers. By age 13, she entered professional theater as an apprentice with Broadway at Music Circus, where she earned her Actors’ Equity card. At 15, Vicky became the first local dancer accepted into Sacramento Ballet Company.
Vicky married and left the stage to focus on family life. Yet, circumstances would lead her back to her first, most enduring love - dance. In 1968, Vicky opened a dance school by converting her garage into a studio, where she could work from home while parenting her young children. In 1971, Vicky and family moved to South Dakota, where she opened a professional studio called Vicky’s School of Dance ~ the Centre of Movement.
Several years later the family moved to Maine, and in 1978 she opened The Centre of Movement, School of Performing Arts.
With Vicky as owner and artistic director, the “Centre” took root in the heart of Gorham; it thrived, took new form, and expanded. The Centre operated for over 40 years in Gorham, with satellite studios and programs in many surrounding towns, the most recent in Limington. Many of Vicky’s students became professional performers and teachers of the arts.
Yet, it was for more than excellence in teaching that Vicky became known and appreciated. The unique and big-hearted way that Vicky cared for people endeared her to the community. She continually stepped up to lend a helping hand when needed, and to give back to her community through myriad civic and philanthropic activities.
Vicky is survived by her daughter Jenifer Lloyd of Portland, and son Louis “Randy” Morton, of Fryeberg. “Grammy'' Vicky is survived by 5 grandchildren, Graham B. Lloyd, and wife Brooke, of Portland; Avery Lloyd Galarraga, and fiancé Kayla Meijer, of Scarborough; Nicole (née Fitzgerald) and husband Ryan DeVries, Edward Joseph “EJ” Morton, and wife Savannah, all of North Waterboro; and Andrew Morton, and fiancé Misty Sanborn, of Fryeberg; and 7 great-grandchildren, Natahli, Gabreil, Rolando, Finley, Jebediah, Colten, and Carlos. Vicky was blessed to have all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren living locally in recent years.
Vicky’s family has established a charitable fund, the Miss Vicky Fund, to continue her life work of promoting the Arts, supporting children and families, and enriching the lives of special needs individuals. In lieu of flowers, please donate at missvickyfund.org, or make a donation to your favorite charity in Vicky’s name.