ROCKLAND — Mary Ellen Young, 67, passed peacefully March 18, 2015, at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, with her husband of 48 years, Kevin F. Young, by her side.

Born in Rockland on Oct. 13, 1947, she was the oldest daughter of Milton and Mary Roach Gamage. She attended Rockland schools, where she met Kevin F. Young. The couple were married in Rockland on Dec. 3, 1966.

Filled with a wonderful sense of humor, laughter and music, Mary Ellen always enjoyed socializing and spending time with family and friends. Always a very hard worker, she worked a variety of different jobs in Maine and Massachusetts, and holds a resume that cannot be rivaled. With Kevin, she moved to Johnson City, Tenn., where they lived 18 years. While living in Tennessee, she attended East Tennessee State University, learned to ride a motorcycle, and played golf. A huge fan of all music, she sang for numerous events and bands. A favorite pastime was big Sunday dinners followed by band practice or family sing-a-longs. She was fiercely proud of her children's talents and spent her life supporting and encouraging them to keep music in their lives.

Mary Ellen and Kevin enjoyed camping and spent summers at Mic Mac Campground for many consecutive years. They always took part in camping activities, including boating, camp fires and dances. Mary Ellen could often be found enjoying a crossword puzzle, a movie or a good game of Scrabble anytime she could get someone to play. She considered owls to be, 'wise, old, birds,' and had amassed quite a collection of them.

Mary Ellen's greatest pride and joy was being close to her family and grandchildren, Courtney, Benjamin, Jacob, Kade, Shannon, Jonas, Mary Ellen, Gaven, Kevin and Farren Lee; as well as her step-grandchildren, Tricia, Courtney, Lena and Cindy.

In addition to her her parents, Mary Ellen was predeceased by a brother, Larry Gamage; and a sister, Linda Marr. She is survived by her husband; five children, Annette Young, Charlene Walsh and her husband, Joseph, Mary Bergey, Michael Young, and Laura Perkins and her husband, Vinson; three sisters and their husbands, Bernice and Richard Gleason, Lorraine and John Falla and Leatrice and Jeff Falla; two brothers and their wives, Craig and Polly Young and Eric and Trisha Young; and a brother-in-law, John Marr Sr. Mary Ellen was part of a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished friends.

A memorial mass will be held Wednesday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 150 Broadway in Rockland. A spring graveside committal service is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10 at 10 a.m. at Sawyer Cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.