Thetis Christine Churchill

    Churchill, Thetis C., 103, June 8, 2011.  Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home.  Interment to be held in the Ludlow Cemetery.
    HOULTON – Thetis Christine Churchill, 103, died June 8, 2011 in Houlton. She was born December 26, 1907 in Washburn, the daughter of Hosea and Eulalia (Gould) Greenlaw.
    Her early years were spent with her grandmother and aunt on a farm away from the town of Washburn. Transportation was to walk or with a horse and buggy or sleigh. Communication between her family was with penny postcards and hard money was put into the bank except for necessities. She attended one room school houses until she attended Washburn High School, where she met her husband, Basil. They were married June 15, 1927 and were married 71 years before he passed away.
    Thetis and Basil moved to Hobart Hill, a fenced private game reserve. From there they moved to Davidson where they lived and Basil worked at the dairy. From there they moved to Patten, Easton and finally Houlton in 1947 where they eventually purchased a farm on the Moosebrook Road in Ludlow and spent many of their happy years. From a log cabin with a large fireplace to large drafty farm houses with oil barrel furnaces, she papered and painted those houses and made them home.
    She had a green thumb and both vegetables and flowers were part of her life. She canned and later froze their year’s supply of food. Going fiddleheading and picking large enamel pans of wild strawberries, all hulled, were an enjoyable outing for her.
    Her shopping center in her early marriage was the Sears catalog. She purchased a washing machine on “time” and made the payments by taking in washing.
    When her children were grown she started teaching herself how to cultivate small cactus, African violets and other odd house plants. She continued to teach herself cake decorating. Many special cakes were perfectly made and decorated for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. She started rug hooking and eventually taught both rug hooking and cake decorating at the recreation center in Houlton. Her craftwork and hand work were exceptional, both in color, beauty and perfection of design. Her rug hooking and needlework were the same on the front and back.
    She spent 10 enjoyable years at Lee Apartments enjoying the people she met there and celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends. Her last three years she spent at Madigan Estates, where her smile was sunshine for many. Her family, who didn’t live near her, are deeply grateful to her two faithful companions, Vina Sawyer and Beverly Moody who brightened her days.
    She is survived by one son, Arlen “Pat” in Tucson, AZ; six grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Louisa Smith and her late husband, Owen, of Mapleton and a brother, Dale and his wife, Marylin, of Washburn. She is predeceased by her husband; daughter, Jackie and a grandson.
    Graveside funeral services will be held 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 at Ludlow Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.