Ruth Crockett Webster

1922 – 2013

NEW SHARON — Ruth Crockett Webster, 91, passed away Friday, Oct. 11, at her home of fifty-three years in New Sharon, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Sumner on May 14, 1922, the daughter of Horace and Marion (Stetson) Crockett. She grew up on the family farm on a rocky hillside at the foot of Black Mountain. Ruth attended the one-room Morrill School for eight years, graduating from Buckfield High School in 1940.

On Nov. 2, 1940, she married Donald E. Webster of Castine. They first raised their family in Sumner and, after 1960, in New Sharon. In addition to providing a loving home for her family, Ruth was a true partner with Donald in the operation of the farm.

After they retired in 1979, Ruth and Donald bought a camper. They enjoyed clamming and family visits in the Castine area, as well as fishing and camping on Moosehead, Rangeley and other lakes.

After Donald died in 1986, Ruth traveled extensively with her daughters to Montana, Alaska, New York, Canada, Florida and Brazil. She enjoyed camping and canoeing trips with her children and grandchildren on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Allagash and Lobster lakes.

Ruth was an avid reader and collector of books. She volunteered at the New Sharon Town Library for many years.

Ruth enjoyed many activities and hobbies. She planted, cultivated and preserved large harvests from her expansive vegetable garden. She also grew and enjoyed many varieties of flowers. Ruth appreciated the outdoors, collecting colorful autumn leaves, feeding songbirds, walking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Her skills in knitting and crocheting, basket making, quilting and other crafts provided her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and neighbors with treasured, handmade items. She was an enthusiastic scrapbooker and photographer, filling many pages with newspaper clippings, mementos and her nature photography.

Saturday night family suppers, consisting of homemade baked beans and evening games of dominoes, cribbage, Sixty-Three and High Low Jack, were among her favorite times. Her home was the center of many family gatherings for birthdays and holidays. She enjoyed listening to Red Sox radio broadcasts with her realistically low expectations for the team’s success.

Ruth is survived by her brother, Burleigh Crockett, of Waterville; all eight of her children, Maynard A. Webster, Betty Harris, Jeanette Adams, Margaret Webster, Norma E. Webster, Robert E. Webster, Marie W. Small and Stanley E. Webster; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.