Obituary

Evelyn B. Eiler, obituary

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 5:15pm

OWLS HEAD — Evelyn B. Eilers, 92, died at her home Dec. 11, 2012, from complications of a stroke she suffered in May.

Born in Lincolnville Dec. 30, 1919, she was the daughter of Merrill P. and Louise M. Pendleton Brown. She was a 1937 graduate of Camden High School, and in 1940, graduated from Gorham Normal School. She later earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of New Hampshire and a Masters in Education from Tufts University.

In the early years of her teaching career, she taught at McLain School in Rockland and in the Kensington, N.H., school system. She met 1st Lt. Harry A. Parr who was serving in the U.S. Army and the couple married in Camden during the summer of 1942. Mrs. Parr resided in Camden with her parents while her husband returned to World War II, which was ongoing. The Parrs were blessed with one son, Randall. Life as she had known it, tragically changed when she was notified of her husband's death in battle while serving in Germany in November 1944.

Mrs. Parr continued teaching in New Hampshire and Maine, before she accepted a teaching appointment at the Cutter School in Arlington, Mass., where she ultimately served more than 30 years until her retirement in 1980. Shortly after moving to Arlington, she met Delbert D. Eilers, and after courting a time, they were married at Arlington Aug. 7, 1954. Mr. Eilers died in 1974.

Following her retirement, Mrs. Eilers built a home in Bilerica, Mass., where she resided a few years before returning to Maine. She has resided in Owls Head since 1982.

For more than 10 years, she enjoyed the companionship of George Robinson who died this year.

Mrs. Eilers was a longtime active member of the Rockland Congregational Church; past president and longtime member of the Owls Head Garden Club; past chairperson and board member of The Talbot Home in Rockland; a member of Knox County Retired Teachers Association, Megunticook Watershed Association, University of Southern Maine Alumni Association and Tufts University Alumni Association.

She knit many sweaters for family and friends, and expressed her artistic ability through painting. Interior decorating and design was another of Mrs. Eilers' abilities, made evident as she designed an addition to her family's cottage and was actively involved in projects around her home. Her son remembered that when his mother decided to do something, she made it happen. He further recalled that his mother, in the tumultuous times of 1957, traveled from Florida to Cuba by ferry with him and his cousin. She enjoyed traveling, which included trips to Israel, Scotland, China and Switzerland.

Other than her husbands and companion, Mrs. Eilers was pre-deceased by her sister, Mary Murgita, just four weeks ago; and her brother, Robert Brown. She is survived by her son, Randall A. Parr of Appleton; one grandson, Andrew R. Parr and his wife, Susan, and their son, Harrison, all of Bethel; three nephews and their wives, Bruce and Deborah Brown, Stephen and Donna Brown and Robert A. Murgita and his wife, Angela Chau, and their son, Alan Murgita.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Thursday, Dec. 13, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland. A graveside committal service will be held Friday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m at Oak Hill Cemetery, Hosmer Pond Road in Camden. The Rev. Seth D. Jones will officiate. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. at Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Abiding Memorial Fund, Rockland Congregational Church, P.O. Box 554, Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or story with Mrs. Eilers family, visit her online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.