Ellen Stewart

Orrington - Ellen Baker Stewart, 97, a lifetime resident of Baker Hill, and wife of the late Rowan L. Stewart, passed away on December 16, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Benjamin B. and Olie (Smith) Leighton, and was adopted in her first year into the loving home of Ewin L. and Sylvia (Smith) Baker. Ellen was educated in the Orrington schools and was a member of the first class as a second grader, held in what was once known as the North Orrington School. She graduated from Brewer High School as the salutatorian of the class of 1935, and from Beal Business College in 1936. Immediately after graduation, she went to work as secretary to H. H. Morrison in the Paper Mill Office of the Eastern Mfg. Co. Ellen and Rowan were married in August of 1940 in the North Orrington Chapel which held many fond memories for the families who then resided on Baker Hill. During the war years, Ellen worked as a bookkeeper for the National Cash Register Co., Bangor office. In 1954, she went to work as a secretary in the law office of James R. Mitchell, continuing with his office through its changes of Mitchell & Ballou, Mitchell, Ballou, and Keith, and Mitchell & Stearns. She took full retirement from the law offices of Cuddy & Lanham in 1994, spanning a period of nearly 40 years. Ellen was a member of the First United Methodist Church and a 71 year member of Vashti Rebekah Lodge, No. 35. These memberships were very meaningful and dear to her all through her life. She loved music and sang in her church choir, beginning at an early age, and was a soloist and chaplain in her lodge for many years. Ellen is survived by a daughter and her husband; Carolyn and Donald LeTendre, a dear son-in-law Michael Reed, all of Arizona, one son and his wife; Joseph and Catherine Stewart of Orrington. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Thomas and Diane LeTendre, Tricia and Christopher Sullivan, Tonya and David Aronson, and Troy Reed and Kelly Smith, all of Arizona; Todd and Margie Reed of Rhode Island and Tammy and William Fischer of New Hampshire. Also surviving are fourteen great grandchildren; Jacob, Brianna, Chelsae and Kaitlynne LeTendre, Danielle, William and Cassandra Fischer, Amanda and Matthew Aronson; and Camden, Cole, and Delaney Reed; Rowan and Lola Reed. Ellen is also survived by several nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved as well as a special friend, Phyllis Leach of Bangor. In addition to her parents and husband, Ellen was predeceased by an infant son Daniel Edwin (1941-1942) whom she never saw; daughter Rowena Elizabeth Reed (1946-2016); sisters, Evelyn Mills Mackeen, Georgia McLaughlin Fowlie, Mildred Mills Fickett, and a brother, Clyde B. Mills.