BETTY LOU SPRAGUE

CRANBERRY ISLES – Betty Lou Sprague, 78, died peacefully, July 11, 2009, surrounded by her loving family at a Bangor hospital. She was born June 7, 1931, in Radford, Va., the daughter of George and Florence (Craig) Brooks. Betty graduated from Radford High School, Radford, Va. She met her soon to be husband, Roland, at Myrtle Beach, S.C., while she was on vacation, and he on leave from a tour of duty serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Through the magic of the U.S. Postal Service, they fell in love and became engaged. Married in her hometown, Roll took his beloved, young bride far north to his island community, Islesford, to begin life and raise a family off the rugged rockbound coast of Maine. After only four short years of very happy marriage and the births of two daughters, on a tragic day, which still haunts this island community, Roll and his crew, Fred Fernald, never came home from a day of lobstering. A sudden, horrific, storm engulfed the coast and tragedy struck when this storm claimed the lives of two of Islesford’s finest lobstermen. As a young widow, Betty’s southern family begged her to return to her home in the Shenandoah Valley to raise her young children, but she refused, insisting that Roll would have wanted his daughters raised on the island and in its community. And the community embraced her and her children with love and friendship, and Betty returned this love in kind. Betty loved people. Strangers to her were merely friends that she had yet to meet and was always ready to greet and embrace each with her sweet smile and greetings of hello, where lingered a sweet, southern drawl, which the strong, local Downeast accent could never conquer. To all visitors to Islesford, whom she met on her faithful, daily walks, with her constant and ever faithful companion, Hemingway – a black standard poodle, with a heart so big and serving, she was the unofficial ambassador of welcome. She always referred herself playfully as a “Southern Maine-i-ac.” During Betty’s life, she held many jobs to help to support her family. She cleaned many cottages of dear, summer island friends, she was a faithful postmaster relief for nearly 25 years at Islesford Post Office, also serving in Seal Harbor and Cranberry Isles post offices, when her services were needed. For many summers she was a waitress at Islesford Dock Restaurant, where each summer many faithful, hungry patrons would specifically ask for Betty as their waitress. She was a faithful member of Islesford Congregational Church, happily singing in the choir and joyfully teaching Sunday school to generations of young ones. She was a trustee of Islesford Congregational Church. She was a member of Rockbound Grange No. 568, Islesford Church Club and was an honorary member of Islesford Historical Society. She was blessed by the fellowship of CFO retreats each autumn in Southwest Harbor. Betty loved to bake and it was she who started the beloved Creme Puff Craze. Betty loved to dance to all kinds of music and she loved all community gatherings. If people were there, Betty was always happily there, enjoying the fellowship and always volunteering in any small way to help. When a fall late last year led her to treatment at a local hospital and physical and occupational therapy became necessary, she was blessed when the doors of Westgate Manor, Bangor, opened to her and she became a part of this most caring and loving community. They became yet another extension of her family and she continued to make friends and share a sunny smile. She is survived by two daughters, Florence Joy Sprague of Islesford and her special friend, Jeffrey R. Sawyer, of Bass Harbor and Juanita L. Sprague and Steven Haynes of Mount Desert; five grandchildren, Cary Samuel and Jasmine Samuel, Abby Hamblen, James Damon and Elizabeth Damon; and two great-grandchildren, Jonathan Hamblen and Julyanna Damon. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Roland J. Sprague, March 18, 1959; and also by one sister and two brothers. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at Islesford Congregational Church with the Rev. Doug Hare, presiding. Interment will be at Sand Beach Cemetery, Islesford. After the committal friends are invited for fellowship at Islesford Neighborhood House. Those who desire may make contributions in Betty’s memory to Emergency Medical Technician Division of Islesford Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 81, Islesford, ME 04646 or Islesford Congregational Church, P.O. Box 3, Islesford, ME 04646. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.