ISLAND FALLS – Ruth E. McLellan, 86, died Nov. 1, 2007, at her home, after a battle with a brain tumor. She was born in New Brunswick, the daughter of Edna (Wilson) and James Gartley. Ruth and John McLellan immigrated from Canada and moved to the Island Falls area when some of her children were young. She and her husband farmed for many years on the Belvedere Road. Ruth was a hard worker, and a capable, devoted mother and grandmother. After she was widowed in 1974, Ruth continued to support her family and herself in a variety of local jobs, not retiring until she was in her 80s. Ruth attended the Baptist church and was knowledgeable about the Bible. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Ruth loved music and could play the piano as well as some other instruments. She loved to go to musical events especially in Canada in the evenings. She had many beloved friends she visited, too many to list here, but she spoke of them all very fondly. She was predeceased by her husband, John D. McLellan; her son, Irvin J. McLellan; and by her sister, Ferne Van Horne. Ruth is survived by her loving daughters and their families, Leona Cleveland and her husband, Daniel, of Atlanta, Evelyn McLellan of Ellsworth, Faye Drew and her husband, Victor, of Island Falls and Linda McLellan and her husband, Larry Foster, of Cleveland. Ruth’s grandchildren are Cynthia (Hastey) Harrington and her husband, Leon, of Ellsworth, Darryl Hastey of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Lynne (Sewall) Bukovsky and her companion, Ken Vincent, of Somersworth, N.H., William Sewall and his wife, Ruth, of Bangor, Craig Cleveland and his wife, Brandy, of Dawsonville, Ga., Leigh (Cleveland) Yanes and her husband, Cesar, of Pelham, N.Y., James Drew and his wife, Sara, of Forest Hills, N.Y., and Nicole (Drew) Lyons and her husband, John, of Dyer Brook. Ruth is also survived by her older brother, Allan Gartley and his wife, Jackie, of Ontario; great-grandchildren include, Cade and Gracen Cleveland, Kelly, Olivia and Emilio Yanes, Michael, Kelley and Shawn McLellan, Tucker Harrington, Brandon and Wade Bukovsky, Jodi and Will Sewall, Laura Lyons and Jonah Drew. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Bowers Funeral Home, Island Falls, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Interment will be at Island Falls Cemetery.
RUTH E. MCLELLAN
