Elizabeth Spooner Strong
BELFAST, ME – Elizabeth “Betty” Spooner Strong, of Belfast, Maine, left us peacefully on Aug. 27, 2014, at age 90.
Born on July 2, 1924, in New Bedford. Mass., she was the second of five children to Elliot Spooner and Grace (nee Parker) Spooner.
The family moved and continued to live around the New Bedford area.
During her high school years, Betty was a part of a trio that sang on the radio much like the Andrews Sisters.
She graduated from New Bedford High School at 16, worked in the textile industry and went on to Union College, in Barbourville, Ky., where she met her future husband, Willard Strong. They married July 16, 1948, and began a life in Huntsburg Township, on the Strong family farm. They raised six children and were very active in community activities.
Willard was a minister and Betty was active in each of his many churches.
She taught at Cardinal elementary school for 33 years, primarily the third grade where she touched many young lives. She was well known for fitting the learning method to the person. She and Willard were frequently found at school events with their children.
After retirement, they moved to Lincoln and then Stockton Springs, Maine. She enjoyed reading, knitting, music, watching sports on TV and enhancing education whenever possible.
Her faith was in word and deed, and she ended all communication with “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it”.
She is survived by her sister, Sue Simmons, of Florida; brother John Spooner, of Massachusetts; sons, Richard (Roberta) Strong of Euclid, and David (Marcella) Strong, of Orwell; daughters, Beth (Roger) Haynes, of Stockton Springs, Maine, Susan (Richard) Juhasz, of Montville Township, Mae (Robert) Hopke, of Dunstable, Mass., and Carol (Gerry) Beland, of Pelham, N.H.; grandchildren, Richard Haynes, Cassandra Haynes, Briana (Mat) Morrill, Meghan (Andrew) Bedarski, Geoffrey Juhasz, Colleen Juhasz, Alex Hopke, Michael Hopke, Sophia Beland and Maxwell Beland; and great-grandchild, Maddock Morrill.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 62 years, Willard; brothers Elliot and Walter; and daughter-in-law, Alice (Richard) Strong.
Celebration of Life Services will be at Huntsburg Community Center (formally Huntsburg Elementary) on April 25, from 2-4 p.m., hosted by her six children.
If you have school memories you would like to share, please send your thoughts to Sue Juhasz, 9652 Morgan Road, Montville, Ohio 44064 or bring them to the service. These will be displayed at the service.
