Obituary

Elizabeth M. Pike

Fri, 01/29/2016 - 11:15am

Elizabeth “Betty” Mellon Pike, 79, of Boothbay died peacefully on Jan. 26, 2016 at the Gregory Wing in Boothbay Harbor.

Betty was born Dec. 26, 1936, to William Mellon and Alice (Ingham) Mellon in Malden, Massachusetts. Betty grew up in Melrose, Massachusetts, where she went to local schools and graduated from Melrose High School in 1954.

During and after graduation, Betty worked as a secretary at the New England Trust Company and quickly became secretary to the president. New England Trust Co. then merged with the Merchants National Bank, and it became the New England Merchants Bank, and she worked for them for another six years as a secretary to the chairman of the board.

Betty met the love of her life, Robert Pike, in May of 1955, and on June 8, 1957, they were married in Malden, Massachusetts, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Betty and Bob moved to Boothbay in 1963. Betty worked at St. Andrews Hospital as a secretary to Dr. Philip Gregory. Betty had to move back to Melrose to care for her mother in 1964. Upon returning to Maine, Betty began working for Attorney David Soule Sr. for the next 15 years. During this time, Betty and Bob were raising their family, and when their son, Bill, left for college, Betty started working for Mid Coast Hospital until her retirement in 2001. Shortly after her retirement, Betty was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, which kept her from being as active as she wanted to be.

Betty loved to volunteer for her community. She served as the treasurer of the Boothbay Chamber of Commerce in the early 1970s, as well as cooking and delivering food for the Meals on Wheels program. Betty was extremely helpful to her husband when he was president of the Rotary Club. She was a loving mother and was very well liked by all of Bill’s friends, making them feel welcome whenever they’d visit.

Betty was predeceased by her father, William Mellon, who died when she was only 11 months old. She and her mother then lived with her grandparents and she suffered the hardship of growing up without a father. This experience made her a more generous and loving person to her family and friends, realizing how important it was to cherish them. She was also predeceased by her aunt, Edna Sally Ingham, her aunt, Winifred Bagnell, and her uncle, Charles Ingham.

Betty is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Bob Pike of Boothbay; her son, Bill Pike and his wife Linda of Falmouth; her granddaughter, Samantha Elizabeth Pike of Falmouth; her grandson, Matthew Robert Pike of Falmouth; as well as numerous cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s name to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 5 at Hall’s of Boothbay, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, from 5 to 7 p.m. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church, 125 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor. The Reverend Sarah Foulger will officiate.

Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, light a candle for Betty, or to share a story of pictures, visit her Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.