REBECCA (GILPATRICK) CRANE

WHITING – Rebecca (Gilpatrick) Crane, 94, peacefully passed away the afternoon of Aug. 5, 2006, at The Grace Home, Harrington. She was born March 6, 1912, in Whiting, the daughter of Perley and Winifred (McLaughlin) Gilpatrick. Rebecca attended the Whiting Village School and Lubec High School, graduating in 1930. She then went to nursing school in Lawrence, Mass. but stayed only one year, returning to the town and the people that meant so much to her. On July 19, 1941, Rebecca married the love of her life, Clyde R. Crane. In 1945, they bought the general store in Whiting and in 1946 their son, Peter was born. From that point on, Rebecca’s life had two main focuses. The first was keeping house and taking care of her family, not only Clyde and Peter, but also her parents and brother, Paul, who all lived out their lives in Whiting. Her other focus was C.R. Crane General Merchandise. She and Clyde owned and ran the store for 32 years. The store was a gathering place for many of their friends, family and neighbors, and as such was a hub of the community for many years. Rebecca clerked in the store from the beginning, keeping Peter in a basket on the meat counter as a baby. When she and Clyde sold the store in 1977, Rebecca was still kept happily busy with her family. She was proud of and dearly loved her grandchildren, and would have them down for sleepovers or would travel with Clyde to Ellsworth to visit them. Even though she didn’t share Clyde’s interest in horses, after retirement they traveled a great deal, going to many harness racing events at racetracks and fairs across the state. Rebecca would take sandwiches and her knitting, and say she had to go with Clyde to keep him awake on the way home. Through the years she also found time to become a lifetime member of the Eastern Star, and she and Clyde enjoyed the Whiting town hall club dinners and bean suppers. When Clyde passed away in 1995 after 53 years of marriage, the joy and purpose in Rebecca’s life was greatly diminished. Gradual dementia eventually forced her to leave the home she had shared with Clyde since 1941, but Cindy Strout and her nurses at The Grace Home in Harrington were a blessing to her and her family for her six-year stay there. Rebecca is survived by her son, Peter Crane and wife, Amy, of Ellsworth; her sister, Arlene Crane of Portland; her grandchildren, John Crane of Pemaquid Point, Julie Crane Havey and her husband, Doug, of Surry, and Hannah Crane of Ellsworth; her great-grand-children, Kaitlyn, Korey, Marissa, and Alicia of Surry; her niece, Nancy Sullivan of York; her nephew, Ulmer Vose and wife, Claire, of Arizona; nephew, Robert Crane of Portland; and nephew, Paul Fitzhenry of Auburn. Rebecca was predeceased by her beloved husband, Clyde; her brother, Paul; and sisters, Madeline and Florence. Visiting hours will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, Machias. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Ellsworth Church of the Nazarene, 445 High St., Ellsworth. Interment will be at Whiting Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Harrington Family Health Center, P.O. Box 82, Harrington, ME 04643.