EVELYN RUTH (LEIGHTON) DEMMONS

SKOWHEGAN – Evelyn Ruth (Leighton) Demmons passed away Nov. 9, 2008. She was born Feb. 16, 1917, in Willimantic, the daughter of Myrtle Hill and Clifford Leighton Sr. Evelyn loved her family and loved family gatherings, celebrating birthdays with her brothers and wives. She attended all family reunions and her high school alumni banquets. She enjoyed seeing her many cousins, nieces and friends. She and her husband had many happy years camping on the Maine coast and around the state during the summer and fall foliage. At 14, she left home and worked for her room and board to attend Guilford High School, where she graduated in 1935. After graduation, she worked at Hardwood Products until her marriage to Ervin Demmons. Evelyn loved gardening and always raised a garden to share with her family. In later years she raised single potted tomatoes for the six-mile lawn sale in Cornville. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts, and crocheting afghans for family members. After raising her family, she worked at shoe shops in Skowhegan and Winslow. She and her husband owned Riverside Garage, Skowhegan, for 25 years. In 1965, she joined Stanley Home Products as a saleslady at party plans, where she was very successful. She earned many trips to Massachusetts, New York and Florida, and a cruise to the Bahamas. She worked at Skowhegan State Fair in the agricultural building for many years and was superintendent for 30 years. She and Carolyn Perkins organized the six-mile lawn sale in Cornville for 20 years. She was also ballot clerk in Cornville and helped at the food pantry. She formerly belonged to Hinckley Grange, Somerset Extension and Cornville Community Group. Evelyn is survived by her sons, Arthur and his wife, Gail, and Carlton and his wife, Diana, all of Skowhegan; three brothers, Alton and Marilyn Leighton, Vergil and Janet Leighton, and Clifford and Gloria Leighton, all of Guilford; three grand-children, Scott Demmons of Portland, Todd and Lisa Demmons of Smithfield, and Kimberly and Ed Robles of Elizabethtown, Penn.; great-grandchildren, Marinel and Connor Demmons of Smithfield, Tori-Lynn Demmons of Massachusetts, and Garret and Isabel Robles of Pennsylvania; many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Ervin; parents; and brother, Elwin and his wife, Billie. At Evelyn’s request, there will be no funeral. A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Collins Cemetery, Cornville, with the Rev. Brian Hale officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salvation Army, 225 Main St., Waterville, ME 04901 or ALS – Lou Gehrig Disease Association, 27001 Agoura Road, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301. Arrangements are entrusted to Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, Skowhegan.