Obituary for Ethel B. "Toots" MacDonald (Adams)
Ethel “Toots” MacDonald passed away on July 5, 2019 in North Berwick, Maine after a battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on March 13, 1931 in Sanford, Maine to Leslie & Evelyn Adams. She grew up in Sanford with her two brothers, Leslie Jr. and Earl “Skippy” Adams.
She attended and graduated Sanford High School and went on to work at McLellans Five & Dime. She was soon introduced to the love of her life by her oldest brother Leslie. She married Richard MacDonald in June of 1952 and they went on to build a home in Berwick and raise two sons - Richard Jr. and Robert. They were married for 46 years until his passing in 1998. She resided at their family home until her death.
Toots worked for many years at Sprague Electric in Sanford. In addition to her full-time job she had a wide variety of interests and devoted many hours to each, including Maine Horse Association (MHA) and Maine 4-H Program. Toots and Mac, as they were known, through their shared passion of showing horses went on to be founding members of the Maine Quarter Horse Association (MeQHA). They became managers of the MeQHA show circuit as well as managing several other association shows throughout New England. They were highly respected in the Quarter Horse industry and made friends all over the country during their 16 years of quarter horse show management.
After retiring from show management, Toots enjoyed spending her summers camping with her family and friends. She participated in three Red Hat groups, Good Old Sports and the South Berwick Senior Group where she held various board positions. It was there she met Bruce Brooks who was her close friend and companion until his passing in 2018. They enjoyed working on projects at their campsite, gardening, playing cards and spending time with family and friends.
Toots joins her beloved mother and father, husband and two brothers in heaven. She leaves behind her cherished family including: her two sons - Richard MacDonald & his wife Patty and Robert MacDonald & his wife Katherine. Her two grandchildren - Kimberly Saucier & her husband Matt and Kevin MacDonald & his wife Karen. Along with - Ron Smith, Brianne Westman, Amanda Westman and Seven great-grandchildren - Olivia, Caleb & Noah Saucier, Abigail & Allison Smith, and Anika & Wesley Doucette; as well as her dear friend Cis Deshaise.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: 383 US Route 1 #2c, Scarborough, ME 04074 or online at www.alz.org.
Visiting hours will be held at Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester St, Berwick on Friday, July 12th from 5 pm - 8 pm. A funeral service will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, July 13th at 10:30 am at First Parish Federated Church in South Berwick.
She attended and graduated Sanford High School and went on to work at McLellans Five & Dime. She was soon introduced to the love of her life by her oldest brother Leslie. She married Richard MacDonald in June of 1952 and they went on to build a home in Berwick and raise two sons - Richard Jr. and Robert. They were married for 46 years until his passing in 1998. She resided at their family home until her death.
Toots worked for many years at Sprague Electric in Sanford. In addition to her full-time job she had a wide variety of interests and devoted many hours to each, including Maine Horse Association (MHA) and Maine 4-H Program. Toots and Mac, as they were known, through their shared passion of showing horses went on to be founding members of the Maine Quarter Horse Association (MeQHA). They became managers of the MeQHA show circuit as well as managing several other association shows throughout New England. They were highly respected in the Quarter Horse industry and made friends all over the country during their 16 years of quarter horse show management.
After retiring from show management, Toots enjoyed spending her summers camping with her family and friends. She participated in three Red Hat groups, Good Old Sports and the South Berwick Senior Group where she held various board positions. It was there she met Bruce Brooks who was her close friend and companion until his passing in 2018. They enjoyed working on projects at their campsite, gardening, playing cards and spending time with family and friends.
Toots joins her beloved mother and father, husband and two brothers in heaven. She leaves behind her cherished family including: her two sons - Richard MacDonald & his wife Patty and Robert MacDonald & his wife Katherine. Her two grandchildren - Kimberly Saucier & her husband Matt and Kevin MacDonald & his wife Karen. Along with - Ron Smith, Brianne Westman, Amanda Westman and Seven great-grandchildren - Olivia, Caleb & Noah Saucier, Abigail & Allison Smith, and Anika & Wesley Doucette; as well as her dear friend Cis Deshaise.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: 383 US Route 1 #2c, Scarborough, ME 04074 or online at www.alz.org.
Visiting hours will be held at Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester St, Berwick on Friday, July 12th from 5 pm - 8 pm. A funeral service will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, July 13th at 10:30 am at First Parish Federated Church in South Berwick.