BUXTON- Helen Elizabeth (Carll) Betts, 88, of Buxton, passed away from a heart attack on Monday, May 23, 2016, at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Helen was born in Buxton, Maine, on April 20, 1928, to the late Guy and Grace (Pinkham) Carll. She attended Buxton Schools and graduated from Buxton High School in 1946. Over the years Helen worked at the Limerick Yarn Mill, Plummer's Store in Buxton, Dana Warp Mill in Westbrook, and a dental lab and Sylvania in Bangor. She also drove ambulance for the Bar Mills Rescue. She married Leroy "Jinks" Louis Betts, Jr., on July 20, 1946, and they raised two daughters, Sandy and Patti.
Helen loved working in her garden and was renowned for her jams, jellies, relish, and pickles. She liked making them but she loved giving them away. Family, friends, and even new acquaintances were often the recipients. Every spring she could not wait to get on her tractor so she could begin rototilling. Every year there seemed to be more garden and less lawn. Picking and selling strawberries and blueberries every summer was also a favorite activity. In later years she wondered whether she would be able to pick and she did, right through her 87th year. Every year people stopped at the stand to buy their strawberries and talk to Helen. She knew most of the people in the community and could address them by name.
Family and friends were Helen's joy. She had a genuine love and interest in the people around her. Proud owner of the Goodie Shoppe, she made many lifelong friends, and some very large ice cream cones. She was a member of Tory Hill Church and served for many years making and selling wreaths, hotdogs and strawberry shortcake. Her pies as well as her jams, jellies, and pickles were well known at plant sales and church fairs. She was involved in the women's fellowship at Tory Hill and helped to make baby layettes, school kits, and health kits. She was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Helen enjoyed reading her Daily Guidepost and watching sports, especially golf with Tiger Woods. If she wasn't watching sports she could be found every evening watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. She also loved to cook and enjoyed trying new recipes.
Helen is survived by her sisters, Alberta C. Richards and Sabra R. Saindon, her grandson, Derek C. Rice, her "granddaughter," Paula J. Welch, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, her daughters, Sandra Rowe and Patricia Haley, and a grandson, Leroy R. Rice.
A celebration of her life will be on Saturday, June 4, at 10 am at the First Congregational Church of Buxton (Tory Hill Church) in Buxton, with Reverend Allison Flaherty officiating. A graveside service will follow at the South Buxton Cemetery (Tory Hill). Funeral arrangements are being handled by Chad E. Poitras Cremation & Funeral Service. Online condolences can be expressed at www.mainefuneral.com
Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Tory Hill Church, PO Box 37, Bar Mills, Maine 04004.