FARMINGDALE – Judith Audrey Whittle Ellis, 72, cherished wife and mother passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2013, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Judy was born April 8, 1940, in Manchester, N.H., daughter of Kenneth Bradford and Mildred Winona Whittle.
Judy graduated from Gardiner High School in 1958 and attended Farmington Teachers College. Judy married the love of her life and best friend, Bruce Edward Ellis, June 4, 1960, celebrating 53 beautiful years together. They loved to spend their summers together at camp in Winterville on St. Froid Lake. They often spoke of their many trips together cross-country and an amazing adventure to Alaska.
Judy was predeceased by her parents, Kenneth Bradford and Mildred Winona Whittle, whom she loved dearly with cherished memories of life at camp on Cobbossee Lake and growing up in Farmingdale. Judy is survived by her husband and children, whom she devoted her life to: sons, Bradford Edward Ellis and wife, Penny, Christopher Whittle Ellis and wife, Angenette, and Jeffrey Scott Ellis and wife, Aimee; and daughter, Julie Ann Ellis-Shephard and husband, Neal, all of Farmingdale. Her grandchildren, who gave her great pleasure and pride, Ashley Mae Ellis and son, Easton Bradford Churchill, Brandon Bradford Ellis and wife, Shaina, and their daughter, Emmerson Mae Ellis, Amanda Marie Ellis and partner, Jonathan Barczyk, Magen Audrey Ellis and fiancé, Michael Shepherd, Benjamin Hunter Ellis and wife, Megan, Zackery Curran Ellis, Joseph Jeffrey Ellis and Sarah Elizabeth Shephard, Tamara Michelle Shephard and Leah Audrey Whittle Shephard; two beautiful great-grandchildren, Easton and Emmerson always put a smile on her face. She is also survived by sisters, Betty Jean Connell and husband, Dick, of Syracuse, N.Y., and Nancy Ann Harrington and husband, George, of Stockton Springs; nephews, Peter Connell and wife, Barbara, of Holland Patten, N.Y., and Scott Connell and wife, Janet, of Watertown, N.Y.; nieces, Deborah Patton and husband, Sam, of Ozark, Ala., and Holly Young and husband, Carl, of Stockton Springs; a very special sister-in-law, Sandra June Ellis of Monmouth and family; and several nieces and nephews. Dear childhood and life friends that made life so special, Tanya Moulton and husband, Bill, of Gardiner, and Nancy Cox and husband, Tom, of Camden; and two very special people that she was proud to call her “sons,” Rick Thompson and wife, Janet, and Robert Antognoni and wife, Donna. The family gives a special thank you to Dr. Marjorie Boyd, who kept giving us just one more day with the love of our life, and the dedicated nursing staff at Maine Medical Center’s Gibson Unit for their dedication, compassion and support
Visiting hours will be held 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, where a celebration of her life will begin 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choosing.
Judith Audrey Whittle Ellis
