Betty Ann Earl

Betty A. Earl, 72, of Waterboro Center, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2003, surrounded by her family, at Mercy Hospital in Portland. She was born April 10, 1931 in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of Rev. Edward Ramsdell Goodwin, Sr., and Alice Maude (Chapman) Goodwin Canning.As a preacher's daughter, she moved extensively with her family around the country. She attended Hollywood High School, in California, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she won the title of "Miss Hawaii High School." As a teenager, she was an accomplished singer, featured on records and a weekly radio program in Hollywood, CA. Before moving to Hawaii, she also worked at the famous Pantages Theater in Hollywood.In 1949, she moved to Waterboro Center. She was formerly employed at both the Allied Kidd office in South Waterboro and at General Electric in Somersworth, NH. For more than 45 years, she also did the bookkeeping for Jim's Getty, the family business, in Waterboro Center.She married James E. Earl, Jr., and was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. When spending time with others, her special gift was the ability to make whoever she was with the center of attention. Her thoughtful insight and reflection guided both her children and grandchildren to help make life's most challenging decisions. Betty was passionate about politics and current events. Over the years, she campaigned for several Republican candidates including George H.W. Bush. She was invited to his inauguration in Washington, D.C.Betty had many interests, was a talented motivator, and especially enjoyed complicated projects, which always came together effortlessly for her. She was an avid writer, a lover of both literature and non-fiction alike, and a Scrabble champion. She loved music, traditional gardening, the water garden she created with her husband, bird watching, ice skating, playing the piano, and she particularly enjoyed watching professional figure skating. She had a fondness for lighthouses and loved spending time at both the ocean and Ossipee Lake. As a lifelong member of St. Stephen the Martyr Episcopal Church, 424 Sokokis Trail, Waterboro Center, 04030, contributions in her name, to the church, would be most appreciated by her family.Besides her husband of 49 years, James E. Earl, Jr., she is survived by 2 sons: James E. Earl, III of Waterboro Center and William D. (& Jennifer) Earl of North Waterboro; two daughters: Susan (& Bradford) French of Hampton, NH and Julie Earl of Cumberland Center; a sister, June Goodwin Huntress of Sanford; two half-brothers, Ralph Canning, Jr. of Sanford and Colin Canning, Sr. of Waterboro Center. Nine grandchildren also survive, Benjamin & Brandon French, William J., Vanessa, Andrew, Whitney, James IV, Sarah and Rebecca Earl.Betty was predeceased by a brother, Edward "Buddy" Goodwin, Jr., and two sisters; Jane Goodwin Plott and Audrey Goodwin Brandt.Relatives and friends may call at Heald Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale, on Sunday, April 27, 2003, from 2-5 PM. A funeral mass will be held at 1 PM on Monday, April 28, 2003, at St. George's Episcopal Church, corner of Main and Emerson Street, Sanford. Rev. Janice Schuyler will officiate and interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery in South Waterboro.