ROCKLAND — Ercell S. Robishaw, 87, died Friday, June 20, 2025, at her granddaughter’s Washington home, where she had resided the past year.

Born and raised in Rockland, December 15, 1937, she was the daughter of Merton R. Sr. and Lura E. Harden Sawyer. She attended local schools and was a 1957 graduate of Rockland High School.

August 24, 1957, she married the love of her life, Donald P. Robishaw. A devoted homemaker, Ercell devoted herself to raising her three children and caring for her immediate and extended family.

After raising her family, she worked at Clarks Flower Shop and in 1971 began employment at Knox County jail as a Matron. From 1984 to 1986, she worked full time as a Corrections Officer with Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Ercell worked as a Personal Care Attendant in association with the Central Maine Area on Aging until 1994.

She was an active member and a Deaconess of the Rockland Church of the Nazarene and was long active in the Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post No. One, Rockland, and in 2003, served as President of that Post’s Ladies Auxiliary. She was an active member of the Knox County AARP and served two terms as President of that organization.

Other than her parents, Ercell was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Donald, Sr.; son Ronald Robishaw and his wife Jeanne; grandson Isaac Rhodes; son-in-law Steven Rhodes; her siblings, Merton R Sawyer, Jr., Carl H. Sawyer, Mary R. Sawyer, Elizabeth Oxton and Margaret H. McLeoud.

She is survived by her son Donald Robishaw, Jr. and wife Gail of Rockland; daughter Elizabeth Rhodes of Washington; grandson Micheal Robishaw and wife Erica of South Thomaston; granddaughters, Rachel Rhodes Batlis and husband Dean Batlis, Jr. of Washington, Rebekah Rhodes of Winthrop; and great-grandchildren, Dean Batlis III, Lea Batlis, Maddox Robishaw, Reid Robishaw, Ana Lord and Jacob Lord, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held July 10, 2025, at 2 p.m., at the Marr Cemetery, Rt. 105, Washington.

To share a memory or story with Ercell’s family, please visit her online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.