Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

UNION - Eleanor Mae 'Ellie' Rowell, 88, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, January 5, 2015, her loving family was at her side.

Born in Rockland, October 7, 1926, she was the daughter of Stanley and Doris Grover Gregory. Educated locally she was a 1944 graduate of Thomaston High School. She later attended and graduated from Fisher Business School in 1946.

Following graduation, Ellie worked for a brief time at local law offices in both Camden and Rockland. During this time she met Duane Rowell, the love of her life. Ellie often said, she knew the first day she met Duane that he was the one she would marry. The pair were married in Camden on October 23, 1971.

In 1973 Ellie and Duane built their home in Union where they have since resided. After working in the law office, Ellie moved on to a career at Crowe Rope. Beginning in 1972, she worked in their traffic division where she fostered her passion for computers as they became more common in the workplace. She was self-taught and became very proficient in Lotus 123 and Dbase as well as Excel and Access. Ellie even enjoyed writing computer programs. She retired from Crowe Rope in 1995.

During her free time, she took great joy in crafting, especially making her own cards, scrap-booking photos of her grandchildren and knitting and sewing. She often made baby clothes and loved giving her beautiful creations away as gifts.

Ellie loved the Lord and had a servant’s heart. For over 40 years she was an active member of South Hope Community Church, serving as choir director for 15 of those years.

As a member of the Union Senior Citizens she worked tirelessly, with the help of her husband, editing, testing and compiling recipes for two cookbooks. She was proud to have her husband’s paintings used as covers for both of the books. Never one to be idle, she volunteered countless hours at the Veterans Administration in Togus. She also gave of her time for six years with the Union Fair, working on the computer program for the Exhibition Hall.

Ellie’s number one priority was her family. She loved spending time with them and being together. She had a kind heart, an infectious smile and bubbly laugh that will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Predeceased by her brother Robert Earle Gregory; Ellie is survived by her beloved husband of 43 years, Duane Rowell of Union; her sons, Kim ‘Mac’ McFarland and his wife Jane of Rockland, Kevin D. McFarland and his wife Debra of Charlestown, NH; seven grandchildren and their spouses, David McFarland, Duane McFarland, Andrea and John Hays, Elizabeth and Joshua Tilton, Robert & Holly McFarland, Timothy and Amy McFarland, Faith McFarland; two step-grandchildren, David and Philip Andresen; as well as many great-grandchildren.

A Home-Going Celebration will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, January 12, 2015 at South Hope Community Church, Rt. 17, South Hope. The Reverend Jamie Bickel will officiate. Interment at Miller Cemetery will take place in the spring.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.