SWANS ISLAND – Ethel H. Staples, 90, died peacefully Nov. 6, 2006, with her loving family by her side at her home. She was born Feb. 25, 1916, Tremont, the daughter of Edward Burton Wheaton and Georgia Alberta (White) Wheaton. Ethel grew up in the harbor, where she worked as a young girl baiting trawls down at Falkins Wharf for the fishermen. She would work for .25 – .50 per day and that money would go to her mother to help out the family. She would always say times were tough back then, but we made the best of it with what we had. Ethel had worked many jobs in her life, but the longest would be the Atlantic Post Office, Swan’s Island, which was located in her home along with the store. She started working at the little post office and store with Cleve and Bessie Dunham, who at that time, owned the house and store. Bessie was the postmaster and Ethel worked beside her to learn all she needed to know. On March 12, 1958, she became the new Atlantic postmaster. Ethel and Maynard also took over the small store which they ran until about 1977. People often talk about the little store where you could sit on an old soda crate by the little black stove after they got their mail or groceries and visit for awhile. After the store closed, you could still go to get your mail and smell the best home-cooked smells you can ever imagine. Ethel would have dinner cooking or supper for that night going and it would make you feel right at home. Her door was always open to her many friends and family that would come in and visit her in her bright sunny warm kitchen. On Aug. 29, 1990, after 34 years working as a postmaster, she decided to retire. In 1996, she opened The What Knot Shop, where she sold homemade gifts that she and other island people made. She always loved to do crafts, like making a special Christmas ornament for each grandchild. In the fall, you could always find her making some of her cucumber relish and other pickles for the year ahead. We would all get a jar or two to take home. This year a very dear friend of hers entered her cucumber relish in the New York State Fair and Ethel won a blue ribbon. Ethel enjoyed gardening, growing petunias and geraniums that adorned her front porch. The most important thing in her life was her family, her life was her family and she would go without to give to them. You could always count on her to be there when you needed her. While the rest of the world was busy doing this and that, you could dial her number and she would answer or go for a visit and she’d be there. She had always been there for all of us. We will miss her very much but her wisdom, love of family and kind heart will go with us forever. She is survived by her son, Donald Maynard Staples and his wife, Bonnie Joyce Staples, of Swans Island; two brothers, John Wheaton and his wife, Lenora and Robert Wheaton and his wife, Barbara, of Florida; one sister, Annie Wheaton and Harry Parsons; five grandchildren, Dusty and his wife, Tammie, Galen Staples and his wife, Janice, Kevin Staples and his wife, Debbie, Lorrie (Staples) Rodrigue and Doug Rich; nine great-grandchildren, Lind-say and Lacey Staples, Eric and Christie Staples, Kyle Staples, Joe and Steve Rodrigue and Jensen and Jordon Rich. She was predeceased by her mother, father; and her husband of 51 years, Maynard Staples; her daughter, Muriel (Staples) Rich; and two brothers, Nelson and Burton Wheaton. Funeral services will be held noon Friday, Nov. 10, at Atlantic Baptist Church, Swans Island, with the Rev. Ken Dutille officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Atlantic. Contributions in Ethel’s memory may be made to the Swans Island Ambulance Service, care of Debbie Staples, P.O. Box 7, Swans Island, ME 04685. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert.
ETHEL H. STAPLES
