ORONO – Eleanor MacLaughlin, 90, beloved wife of Grover Bertran MacLaughlin, passed away peacefully Feb. 12, 2006, at home surrounded by her family. She was born in Lowell, Mass., daughter of Robert C. and Grace (Welts) Gray. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and the University of Maine with a master of education. She taught music, art and was the music supervisor for Houlton public schools and retired as a first grade teacher at the Abraham Lincoln School, Bangor. Eleanor encouraged in others the importance of education, reading and intellectual pursuits. Eleanor sang with a prestigious choral society in Boston, Mass. She was often a soloist in the choir at the Church of Universal Fellowship, Orono. She inspired a great love of music in her children with piano, violin, clarinet, guitar and dance lessons. Eleanor and Grover were married for 65 years. In their retirement, they traveled widely, played bridge and enjoyed their family and friends. She was a Member Emeritus of the Maine Society of Mayflower Descendents (descendants of John Howland) and Esther Ayres Chapter of D.A.R. For many years she was a volunteer at the Orono Public Library and with the service groups at the church. She is survived by her beloved husband, Grover; daughters, Carol and Ed Combes of Scarborough, Anne and Ned Vadakin of Rye, N.H. and Jane and Brooks Sherman of Annapolis, Md.; grandchildren, Michael D. Combes and wife, Nikki, of Windham, Charles E. Vadakin III and his wife, Jennifer, Robert T. Vadakin, Kelsey Gray Sherman and Anne Howland Sherman; great-grandchildren, Owen M. Combes and baby boy, Vadakin, (due 7/06); of her five sisters and brothers, she is survived by her sister, Clorinda Gray Banks of Duxbury, Mass. She is also survived by many beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. A special thank you for the exceptional care provided by Cynthia Fellencer, Cynthia Gaudet, Carla Gibson, Denise Henderson, Dale Lugdon, Lynn Manship, Cheryl Murray, Tammy Patterson, Evelyn Smaha and Gail Spellman. A celebration of her life will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St., Orono, with the Rev. Lorna Stuart, pastor, officiating. All those attending are invited for a luncheon immediately following the services at The Gathering Place at the church. Committal services will be noon Monday, Feb. 27, at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Chapel, Augusta. Gifts in memory of Eleanor may be sent to The College Scholarship Fund Maine Mayflower Society, P.O. Box 622, Yarmouth, ME 04096. A service of Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono.