ELLSWORTH – Hazel Rae Colpitts Blackstone passed away peacefully Sept. 7, 2005, after a long and courageous battle with dementia. Born in Ellsworth in 1907, the daughter of Henry and Alice Sargent Colpitts. She graduated from Ellsworth High School in the Class of 1923. She then trained in New Jersey to become a Western Union manager and for more than 42 years served as manager of the Ellsworth office of Western Union. During that time she also ran other businesses including a florist shop, a travel agency and the Black Cat, a dance hall at Franklin Roads. Within months of retiring from Western Union, Hazel became children’s librarian at the Ellsworth City Library and eventually head librarian, a position from which she retired in 1984. As a young woman Hazel was active in amateur theatrical and choral groups and sang in the chorus when touring metropolitan opera productions came to Bangor. Despite working long hours, she contributed many volunteer hours to her community through various organizations. She was a member of the Eastern Star and Rebeccas, for which she was a past Noble Grand and state officer. She was a charter member of the Ellsworth Bird Club and very active in the Ellsworth Garden Club. She held numerous offices for that organization and was instrumental in mounting many nationally award winning flower shows and establishing the club’s Donald Little Park. She was a member of the Ellsworth Methodist Church, where she served as choir director for several years. More recently her church home was the First Congregational Church of Ellsworth where she derived great pleasure from singing in the choir and serving on the music committee. Hazel was predeceased by her husband, Albert H. Blackstone in 1958; and by a sister, Doris Colpitts Garland in 1941. She is survived by her daughter and primary caregiver, Mary Blackstone and her supportive husband, Cameron Louis, as well as a special cousin, Allen Fernald and his wife, Elaine. Her later years were made more comfortable by the efforts of a devoted caretaker, Jay Barnes and special caregivers, Diane Neale, Elaine Gilley, Faye Hayes, Jennifer Sargent, Nanette Beal and Elizabeth Whitney. A celebration of Hazel’s life will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the First Congregational Church, UCC, 2 Church St., Ellsworth. Private interment will be at Woodbine Cemetery, Ellsworth. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Hazel’s memory may be made to the Donald Little Park Endowment Fund, care of George Ray, Ellsworth Garden Club, 758 Bayside Rd., Ellsworth ME 04605 or the Scholarship Fund of the Garden Club Federation of Maine, care of Eric Grindle, Ellsworth Garden Club, 523 Bayside Rd., Ellsworth, ME 04605. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth.
HAZEL RAE COLPITTS BLACKSTONE
