Elizabeth Anne Lones

PORTLAND- Elizabeth Betty Lones, 85, a resident of Osher Inn, died on May 11, 2016, after a period of declining health. She was born December 4, 1930 in Portland, the daughter of Mary and Walter Wallace. Betty graduated from South Portland High School and Mercy School of Nursing in Portland. Not long after graduating from nursing school and completing her affiliation at Childrens National Medical Center in Washington DC, Betty met and eventually married Robert Bob Lones. Bob went to work for Sperry Gyroscope and they moved to Long Island New York, where Betty continued her career in nursing. She took some time away from nursing once they started a family to take on the more than full time job of raising her three sons, Paul, John, and Jim. A couple of moves with Sperry took them to Texas and back East before Bob took a position with Draper Laboratory in Cambridge MA, where he worked for many years. The family lived in North Reading Massachusetts during that time. Betty was very active in community organizations including the Garden Club, Historical Society, and the Putnam House restoration committee. The family also enjoyed many summer weekends and vacations at the family camp on Thomas Pond, a place where she also spent summers as a child. Camp was a special place where multiple generations of family gathered and the cousins played together from early morning until dark. Betty returned to nursing once her children were grown. She provided in home care to several children with serious illnesses. She often spoke of how meaningful and challenging she found the work and lovingly recalled one little girl in particular, Jean-Marie, whom for 10 years she helped care for. Betty and Bob moved to Port Charlotte, FL when Bob retired and enjoyed many winters there. They returned each summer to camp in Maine. In Florida, Betty volunteered with many church food drives and activities, as well as respite care. Several years after her husband died, she moved back to Maine full-time where she lived at Ocean View in Falmouth for over 10 years. Betty enjoyed her social life of cards, wine and cheese parties, and attending plays, musicals and concerts. She was an active parishioner at Holy Martyrs Church in Falmouth and thoroughly enjoyed her friends who participated in Connected Catholics. She especially enjoyed their trips to various restaurants in the area to try new foods. Bettys hobbies included a wide range of activities from collecting to sewing and decorating to furniture refinishing. She enjoyed food and often tried new recipes with her family. Some became hits and part of her regular repertoire. Her pound cake was to die for and a perennial favorite for birthdays. She had an eclectic enthusiasm for food from Amatos Italian sandwiches and Tonys Donuts to expertly prepared Maine seafood. A true foodie by todays standards. Her enjoyment of her many activities was only exceeded by her love of family and friends. She was especially fond of children and dedicated much of her life to taking care of her own children as well as the children of others through her nursing career. She was generous with her time and attention to her friends and families. Many children in the extended family have a baby quilt made by Grammy and Aunt Betty. Betty is survived by her three sons, Paul, John, and Jim; her three daughters-in-law, Audrey, Lisa, and Regina; and seven grandchildren; Alison, Amy, Tyler, William, Emily, Hannah and Ben. She is also survived by her brother David Wallace, sister-in-law Sue Wallace, brother-in-law Ed Mountford, sister-in-law Pauline Lones as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Robert L. Lones and her sisters Marcia Mountford and Kathryn Stewart. The last few years of Bettys life included struggles with several chronic illnesses that only slowed her down in recent months. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the staff as Osher Inn, Cedars and Falmouth by the Sea, as well as Dr. Frederick the many specialists that helped care for her. In particular we are grateful for the support and guidance of the team at Mercy Hospital and VNA that cared for her, and us, during her last days. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2016 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, Me. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Monday, May 16, 2016 at 10:15am followed by an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius X, 492 Ocean Ave., Portland. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view Bettys memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org)51 US Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074.