UNION – M. Elizabeth Hall, 88, of Cushing, passed away peacefully Nov. 25, 2005, at Pen-Bay Medical Cen-ter in Rockport. Elizabeth, known to her friends as “Muffet,” an endearment given by her brother as children, was born Feb. 10, 1917, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, to British citizens Leonard and Blanche (Burrows) Jones. During the invasion of Malaya by the Japanese, her father, then publisher of the Malay Mail (now the Straits Times), took refuge on the Chinese Coaster “Giang Bee” losing his life when the ship was strafed and bombed by Japanese planes. Her mother was removed to the Japanese prison camp in Palemabang, Sumatra, dying there of malnutrition. Her brother, Tony Jones and husband, Dennis Panting, both Royal Air Force pilots, died when their planes were shot down in hostile action. Despite these terrible losses, Elizabeth soldiered on, joining the Special Forces. A F.A.N.Y., she qualified as a member of the Special Operations Executive, S.O.E., working with the French Resistance she parachuted behind the lines in Corsica, as reported by Sue Ryder, in her book “Child of My Love.” Muffet was hired by cryptographer Leo Marks, head of S.O.E. and author of “Silk and Cyanide.” She was also proud to have been privy to the destruction of the heavy water plants in Norway, a task celebrated by the Special Forces, as it denied Germany acquisition of the atomic bomb. Muffet will be remembered by her family and friends for her compassion, her resiliency and strength. With her artistic flair, she loved painting, discussing books, writing letters, projects with nature and daily walks, gathering lavender, flowers, rocks and sea glass. She volunteered at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, until she left to tenderly care for Dean at their home. It was with Dean on Stones Point with the ocean at her windows, her flowerbeds gracing the rough granite, that Muffet found her greatest peace. For the past eight years Muffet resided happily in the midst of family life at the home of her son, Andrew. Muffet was predeceased by her loving husband, Dean Hall who passed away May 1995. She was also predeceased by her parents, brother and her first husband prematurely. Survivors include three sons, Anthony Baker and wife, Amy, of Staunton, Va., Jonathan Baker and wife, Olivia, of Greenville, S.C., Andrew Baker and wife, Ginny, of Union; seven grandchildren, Gabrielle Amster of Staunton, Va., Sally, James and David Baker, of Middlebury, Conn., Abigail, Anthony “AJ” and Anny, of Union; two great-grand-children, Julian and Adrian Amster, of Stauton, Va. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, at the Peoples United Methodist Church, Depot Street, Union. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Kno-Wal-Lin Home Health Care Services, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841; or to the Cushing Ambulance Service, Cushing, ME 04563. Arrangements are entrusted to Hall & Bibber Funeral Home, Thomaston.
M. ELIZABETH HALL
