BELFAST — Edith Blethen Ladd departed this life, March 3, 2020.

She was born in Thorndike, Maine on November 11, 1926, to George and Annie Wilton Blethen. George and Annie each had six children from their previous marriages, together and between them had twenty children. Edith was the second child of eight with seven brothers.

When Edie was fourteen she left her home in Knox to attend high school in Belfast and worked for her room and board. She graduated from Crosby High School in 1944. Edie worked as a beautician at Georgie’s Beauty Shop which was located on Main Street in Belfast.

Edie married John Ladd on April 26, 1947, after he returned from military service in the Army Air Corps after WWII.

Edie left Georgie’s to raise four children and ten thousand chickens with her husband, John, next to the Passagassawakeag River on the Waterville Road in Belfast. Eventually, as the children grew older and the poultry ranch lost out to the economy of scale with larger and larger farms, Edie went back to hairdressing. She also delivered mail between the Searsport, Stockton Springs and Sandy Point Post Office twice a day, six days a week for many years. While waiting for the return mail, she developed a steady client base often doing a permanent or a cut in the general store where the post office was located. She also went back working part time at Georgie’s during the sixties and early seventies. Some years before that, she worked at Penobscot Frozen Foods, made sandwiches for the local store, Christmas wreaths during the season, and sold Avon products. Edie always enjoyed working and being busy.

Edie loved reading, losing her vision to macular degeneration was difficult for her to accept. She fought for many years having treatments but eventually it robbed her of many of the things she enjoyed doing, especially cooking and feeding people. One of her grandchildren’s friends referred to her house as Meme’s restaurant. There were always pies, doughnuts, and yeast rolls on the counter and homemade food in the refrigerator. For decades Edie summoned her family and their friends to Sunday dinners, holidays and birthdays. Her home was the center of activity and family life.

She was predeceased by her husband, John; grandson Josh Ladd, grandson-in-law Shanon Post; sons-in-law Richard Clark and Geoffrey Spears; brothers, Burleigh Blethen and wife Gisela, Basil Blethen and wife Julia, Perry Blethen and wife Thirma, and Parker Blethen and wife Bernice; sisters, Pauline and husband Vernon Ryder, Mildred and husbands Michael Malta and Benjamin Algeri; her sister-in-law, Margret Ladd Eckman and husband Hugo Eckman; brother-in-law, Bob Otis; and a special nephew, Henry Eckman.

She is survived by her children, Marcia Ladd Spears, Annette Ladd Williams, Daniel Ladd and wife, Maureen, and Samuel Ladd; grandchildren, Jake Ladd and wife Wanda, Cassie Bilodeau and husband Steve, Kristin Post Goodwin and husband Ryan Goodwin, Samantha Ladd, and Bridget Ladd Bowen and husband Mike, and Joshua’s widow, Sharen Ladd; great grandchildren, Jacob Bilodeau, Ryan Bilodeau, Alexandra Ladd, Joshua Ladd, Makylah Ladd, Josie Ladd, Ethan Post, Freyja Goodwin, and Ashton Post; brothers, Floyd Blethen and wife Vera, Roger Blethen, wife Carolyn, and Stacy Blethen and wife Nancy; and sister-in-law, Virginia Ladd Otis.

It is not possible to summarize a life of ninety three years, however suffice to say Edie touched many hearts in her long and productive life and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends. 

There will be a gathering Saturday, March 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Shrine Club on Northport Ave., in Belfast.

There will be a graveside service for family and friends to attend, June 20, at 10 a.m., at the Head of the Tide Cemetery. 

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the WCGH Hospice. HVOWC, PO Box 772, Belfast, ME 04915.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.