SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Elizabeth “Betty” M. Rea, 83, died Feb. 14, 2006, at a Bar Harbor healthcare facility. She was born Aug. 2, 1922, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Charles D. and Emma Jessie (Buchanan) Rea. Elizabeth lived on a sugar plantation as a child and moved to Maine in 1931. She earned her bachelor’s degree at UCLA in 1960, her master’s degree at University of Southern California in 1971 and her MED master’s in administration of schools at University of Maine, Orono in 1979. Elizabeth worked overseas for the U.S. government as an elementary school teacher for 25 years before her retirement in 1988. For five and one half years she did oral history work in the town of Southwest Harbor, including organizing tapes, 57 documented, writing summaries and indexing 25 categories. Elizabeth was a member of the Kiwanis Club and on the board of directors at the Mount Desert Island Chapter. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Maine Audubon Society, American Association of University Women. She was a lifetime member of Phi Delta Kappa, served on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters Downeast and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Elizabeth is survived by her sister-in-law, Mrs. James B. Rea; nieces, Cynthia Rea and Melissa Hedges; nephew, James Rea Jr. all of California; many more nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a half brother, Pedric Rea of Maine. She was predeceased by her brother, James B. Rea; and niece, Deborah Holm. Services will be announced at a later date. Contributions in Elizabeth’s memory may be made to the Southwest Harbor Animal Shelter, care of Bessie Gray, P.O. Box 434, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert.
ELIZABETH ‘BETTY’ M. REA
