ELLSWORTH – Alice M. (Sargent) Worcester, 88, passed away at a local nursing home, Sept. 8, 2013. She was born Oct. 25, 1924, in Ellsworth, a daughter of Earl L. and Grace M. (Black) Sargent.
Alice grew up in Ellsworth and was married soon after high school to Robert L. DeWitt, and they raised two daughters. She trained at Groton, Conn., and Thayer Hospital in Waterville for her LPN degree, graduating first in her class. She worked at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital for years with Dr. Eji Suyama, and Dr. George Sanger. Later she operated a small nursing home from her residence. She was a talented seamstress, and could fashion a tailored man’s suit and topcoat, or beautiful dance recital costumes. She also loved to paint and could do lovely scenes as well as portraits. After her first marriage ended, she married William Dunham, and they bought a farmhouse in Franklin, where she raised sheep and spun their wool into yarn creating many beautiful items of clothing. She enjoyed life on the farm and was always busy. Bill passed away after 21 years of marriage. She and Ben Conley Worcester Jr. married in 1994. They lived in Southwest Harbor where “Conley” was a successful businessman. They loved spending weekends at Mopang Lake at his camp relaxing, boating, enjoying visits from his children, Mark and wife, Connie, Lee, and Damaris, entertaining grandchildren, making pop-over’s for visiting friends, etc. They spent 18 happy years together until his passing in 2012.
Alice is survived by her daughter, Gloria Austin of Ellsworth and her son, Jonathan of Otis; daughter, Mary Farnsworth of Cherryfield and her children, Billie Jo Stanwood and Daniel Farnsworth of Cherryfield; several great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and sister, Geraldine and husband, Kellogg Humphreys, of Texas. She was predeceased by a daughter, Barbara; Gloria’s son, Mark; and Mary’s son, Christopher.
Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Jordan-Fernald Funeral Home, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. A reception will be held immediately following the service at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery, Cherryfield. Contributions in Alice’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074; or to the charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.


