Mary Ellen Woodruff (MacArthur)

Mary Ellen Woodruff, 78, of Baileyville recently left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior on October 4, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Mary Ellen was born September 1, 1940 in the home of her grandparents in Grand Lake Stream, Maine to the late Creston Theodore MacArthur and Margaret Mary (Longdon) MacArthur.

Mary Ellen attended Princeton High School and graduated with the class of 1959. She then married the love of her life Forest Perl Woodruff Sr. in 1959. She went on to raise her two children and was a homemaker for most of her life. Mary Ellen’s children and family were what was most important to her and is where she devoted most of her life. Over the years she took some college courses at the Calais Vocational School, but eventually began working at the Georgia Pacific Mill in Baileyville as a wood room operator and then later retired. Other than work and family Mary Ellen enjoyed going to church, knitting, playing Tetris, video games and board games, fishing, swimming, going to Wabash camp, and just being in her home town of Grand Lake Stream.

Mary Ellen was an amazing wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend to so many. She was a woman of God with the most kind, loving, caring and compassionate heart. She knew nothing other than giving of herself by helping others. Mary Ellen always spread joy and love with just the kindness of her smiles, hugs, sense of humor, and laughter. She will be missed deeply by her dear family and countless friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mary Ellen is predeceased by her son Craig Woodruff and her sister Joann Blake.

She is survived by her son Forest Woodruff-Higgins and husband Dayv Woodruff-Higgins; brother Creston MacArthur and wife Kathy MacArthur; Sister Carolyn Bonness; her five grandchildren, Chad Woodruff; Amanda Woodruff and companion Micah Diffin; Megan Jones and husband Brandon Jones; Samantha LeBlanc and Husband Darren LeBlanc; and Hannah Woodruff; her five great grandchildren Jacob Diffin; Madelyn, Elana, and Johnathan Jones; and Daniel LeBlanc; her nieces and nephews Mark Blake and wife Eileen Blake, Donna and Husband Russell Parker, Tammy Donahue and companion Jullian Tozier, Keith MacArthur and wife Rene MacArthur, Billie Jean Bonness and companion Wayne Sowers, Denise Smith, Denny Woodruff and wife Charlene Woodruff, Dorie Dunton and husband Stan Dunton, Crystal Monk and husband Troy Monk; many great nieces and great nephews; and two special daughters in law Linda Woodruff and Jeanne Woodruff and many more cousins and special friends that were very near and dear to her heart.

A celebration of Mary Ellen’s life will be held at the Grand Lake Stream Church October 10, 2018. The viewing will be from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM with the service starting at 2:00 PM; with Pastor Raymond Morse officiating. There will be a celebration of her life directly after the services at the Grand Lake Stream School House/Town Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry in Calais, Maine. 513 Main St. Calais, ME 04619. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.maysfuneralhome.com

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down and green pastures; he lead me beside the still waters. He restoreth my south; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou are with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23: 1-6)