Betty Gavel

Betty D. Gavel, 79, of Sanford, died on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at the Newton Center in Sanford.Betty was born in Sanford on March 10, 1929 to Ralph and Marion Orcutt Davis. She was raised in Newfield and moved to Sanford during high school. She was a 1947 graduate of Sanford High School. In 1948 she married Vaughn Gavel and together the couple raised two daughters. After her children got older, she worked for a time as a seamstress at Aletta Dress Shop. She also sold Avon for many years. Betty was an active member of the First Assembly of God Church currently known as the Curtis Lake Christian Church where she was a Sunday school teacher and helped found the Missionette Girls Club. She was also a Girl Scout Leader and had been a member of the York County Extension. Betty loved to sew and often made clothing for her children and grandchildren. She also used to make doll clothing that was sold in mail order catalogs. She enjoyed flower gardening and baking, always making a point to make special birthday cakes for her children and grandchildren. Betty was an excellent hostess and liked throwing parties for her family and friends. Betty and her family enjoyed taking trips to Bar Harbor to visit her great aunt and uncle. She was also very fond of her cat Princess. Betty will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Surviving are two daughters, Elizabeth Barr of Sanford and Kathleen Spencer of Springvale; four grandchildren, Richard Barr, Jr. of Sanford, Meredith Barr of Coppell, TX, Christopher Barr of Portland, Melissa Spencer of Springvale; a great-grandson Ethan Barr of Merrimack, NH; one great-granddaughter, Iliana Santiago of Coppell, TX; several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 22nd at the Curtis Lake Christian Church located on Westview Drive in Sanford. Interment will take place in the spring at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Newfield.The family would like to thank the staff of Newton Center for the loving care and kindness shown to Betty and her family over the years.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to the Newton Center Activities Fund, 35 July Street, Sanford, Maine 04073.Arrangements are through Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home in Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family, please click on the condolences tab to the left.