SHIELDS PITTSTON – Elizabeth “Bette” (Branscombe) Shields, 75, passed away June 25, 2007. Born Sept. 25, 1931, in Smyrna, she was one of seven children of Roy and Cora (Kelly) Branscombe. Bette graduated from Oakfield High School and Ricker College, Houlton. At both schools she was active in basketball and other sports. She was married in 1953 to Earl C. Shields, her husband of 36 years. Bette and Earl raised their family in Houlton, where they attended the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Bette worked as a medical secretary, before she was married, and occasionally in retail sales. Bette and Earl moved to Levant in 1974 and to Pittston in 1989. While living in Pittston, Bette was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Gardiner and served her church as a member of the Alter Guild and a counter. She also enjoyed a close friendship with the ladies of the Christ Church prayer group. Bette enjoyed many creative hobbies during her lifetime, including tole painting, masonry, upholstery, sewing, gardening and square dancing with Earl. Bette loved playing games with her family and friends, and she cherished spending summer days at her camp on Pleasant Pond. She traveled through much of the United States, as well as visits to Europe and Asia. Bette was predeceased by her parents and her husband; a brother, Merlin, in 1944, during World War II; and a sister, Ruth Goodwin in 2006. She is survived by her children, Ruby Shields-Morse and her husband, Parker Morse, of Topsham, Elizabeth “Libby” Wyman and her husband, Ken-neth Wyman, of Auburn and Matthew Shields and his wife, Hye Ok, of Topsham; her grandchildren, Ryan, David, and Garrett Wyman, and Earl and Jasmine Shields; three special great-grandchildren, Alison and Camryn Wyman and Keller Wyman; brothers, Philip Branscombe and wife, Gerri, of Oakfield and John “Jack” Branscombe and wife, Jayne, of Bangor; sisters, Velma Albert of Pittston and Phyllis Greenlaw of Oakfield; her beloved sister-in-law and close friend, Cora Clark of Oakfield; two brothers-in-law, Paul Shields of Oakfield and Harold Goodwin of Waterville, several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Bette’s life will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at Christ Church Episcopal, Gardiner. Donations in the memory of Bette may be made to the Woman of Christ Church, Christ Episcopal Church of Gardiner, 2 Dresden Ave., Gardiner, ME 04345. Arrangements are under the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.
ELIZABETH ‘BETTE’ (BRANSCOMBE) SHIELDS
