Elizabeth Merrithew

Calais - It is with great sadness that the children of Elizabeth Merrithew announce her passing. Elizabeth passed away peacefully with her family by her side on April 6, 2015 at the Charlotte County Hospital, St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Bette was born in Toronto, Ontario on July 7, 1934, daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (Hedley) Myers of Belfast, Ireland. After attending secretarial school in Toronto, Bette migrated with her first husband Charles Kirk to Baileyville, Maine by way of Clearwater, Florida. In 1985 while being employed as office manager at the OSB Plant in Baileyville, she married Eugene Merrithew and retired in 1996 to their home on Meddybemps Lake.

In addition to her parents, Bette was predeceased by her husbands Eugene Merrithew and Charles Kirk as well as seven brothers and sisters. Surviving are her four "children in heart" Susan Mariello and husband Joseph of Schenectady, N.Y., Denise McShane and husband Joseph of St. Stephen, N.B. Eugene Merrithew of Spokane, WA., and Beth Merrithew of Calais, Me.; six grandchildren, Bethanie, Lindsey, Ashley, Julianne, Jillian and Lauren; three great grandchildren, Brahm, Lily and Roenan; two sisters Barbara Trapell and Ruth Roderick of Toronto, Ontario and special niece and nephew Lisa and Tony Bouquillon and their children, Erik, Lily, and Sophie, and Ross Kirk and families of Ontario.

Bette was an avid supporter of Special Olympics and the local Paws shelter as well as both the Meddybemps Christian and Calais United Methodist Church. She leaves to mourn many dear friends, particularly special to her heart are her physician and personal friend Tom McHugh and wife Ann of Baileyville, Me. The family would like to extent their heartfelt appreciation to Ocean View Nursing Home in Lubec, Me., Washington Place in Calais, Me., Dr. Norman Lister and Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen, N.B. and their staff. Words cannot express our heartfelt appreciation for the compassion, care and respect you provided to and for our "Mom" and for this we are eternally grateful.

Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. (U.S. Time) Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais, where a celebration of Bette’s life will be held 1 p.m. (U.S. Time) Friday. A spring burial will take place in Woodland Cemetery. Donations to Special Olympics Maine, Attn: Linda, 125 John Roberts Rd #5, South Portland, ME 04106, Frank E. Beckett Center, PO Box 384, Calais, ME 04619, Paws Bravehearts, 368 South St., Calais, ME 04619, or charity of your choice in Bette's name would be appreciated.