Barbara Elliott

MILLINOCKET - Barbara June Elliott, beloved by her family, friends, and former pupils, passed away peacefully March 25, 2015 at Eastern Maine Medical Center with family at her side. Barbara was born in Millinocket, Maine on July 23, 1923, the daughter of Ralph and Laura (Page) Shaw. She lived most of her life in Millinocket, except for the last two years of her life where she happily lived at the Sylvia Ross Assisted Living Home in Bangor, Maine. Barbara exemplified living life to the fullest. Barbara lived a life of faith. She was a member of the Millinocket First Baptist Church, where she was an active member throughout her life, participating in many offices and activities including the mission circle, the church choir, and Sunday school. Her church family was very important to her. At the Sylvia Ross Home, Barbara continued to participate in worship and devotions. Barbara lived a life of service as a teacher. She received her education in Millinocket Schools (Stearns High School Class of 1940), then at the Presque Isle Normal School and later she received her B.S. at the University of Maine. She taught 5th, kindergarten and 1st grades, mostly at Aroostook Ave. School in Millinocket for over 25 years. Many former pupils described Barbara as their "favorite teacher" because of her kindness and view of them as wonderful, unique individuals. Barbara lived a life of appreciation of God's many gifts. She loved her many friends including a group of life-long friends called "the club girls". She delighted in playing cards, Scrabble, sharing meals, and talking. She had an amazing memory for the details of each person's life and would always ask about what was important to each person whenever she chanced to meet them. Barbara was a great baker and cook, supplying her family, church, and friends with many delicious dishes, including the world's best oatmeal bread. She loved travel and adventure, including four-wheeling in the desert, camping with her young family, bowling, starting Thai Chi in her 90's or diving into Togue Pond fully dressed in her late 70's after a hot day of blueberry picking with her family. Barbara lived a life centered on family. She continued to love those who died before her, including her husband of over 40 years, William F. Elliott, her dear sister Marion and husband Palmer Anderson, sisters-in-law Gladys Ross (husband D o n a l d ) a n d H e l e n Gartshore(husband Norman), and her brothers-in-law Leonard Elliott, Clifford Elliott, Reginald Elliott, Frank Elliott, and Adam Wilson. She is survived by her beloved brother Page Shaw and his wife Alice of Millinocket, her sisters-in-law Margaret Ann Elliott of Ontario, Canada, Dorothy Wilson of New Brunswick, Canada, and Edith Doherty of Ontario, Canada. She is also survived by her three children, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren: son Gary Elliott and wife Carol of Omaha, Nebraska, daughter Ruth Elliott Whitaker and husband Malcolm of Tucson, Arizona, and daughter Mary Winslow and husband Arthur of Essex, Vermont. Grandchildren are Joshua Winslow (wife Noel), Daniel Winslow, Bethany Merkling (husband Richard, children Nikolah and Xavier), Kathryn Aronson (husband Mark), Rebecca Lundgren (husband Weston, children Charity, Isaiah, Sadie, and Abraham), and Laura Rush (husband Brandon). Barbara is also survived by many "favorite" nieces and nephews throughout the U.S. and Canada, including Marie Shaw Johnson, who was a frequent visitor while Barbara lived at the Sylvia Ross Home. Visiting hours will be Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack St., Millinocket. Funeral services will be held Sunday March 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Millinocket First Baptist Church, 297 Penobscot Ave. in Millinocket. Barbara wanted gifts in her memory to be made to the First Baptist Church of Millinocket.