ROCKPORT — Gladys Irene Kimball, 92 passed away on April 29, 2017, at Knox Center Long Term Care in Rockland, where she had resided since June 2016.

Born Aug. 5, 1924, she was the daughter of Beryl and Dessie (Welker) Satterthwaite in St. Francisville, Ill. She was raised and attended school in Lawrenceville, IL.

In 1944, she met and married Howard C.T. Kimball when he was stationed at George Army Airfield, Lawrenceville IL. They moved to Maine in 1945, and stayed with his parents, Barbara and Fred, on the family farm in Hope. In 1946, they purchased a house on Rockport Harbor. Howard became a lobsterman and Gladys worked as a crab picker, selling lobsters and crabmeat from their home. Gladys was proud to have some of the best crabmeat around, especially after being informed by a state inspector one year that she was number three in the state. In the years after her husband's death, she also picked crabmeat for several other businesses in the area.

Gladys and her husband enjoyed many good times with friends and family on Sunday island picnics, Saturday night socials, snowmobiling with the Goose River Snowmobile Club and waterskiing on Hosmer Pond at the Grinnell's camp back in the day. She was always joking and making people smile right up to the end.

A talented knitter, Gladys loved knitting beautifully designed sweaters, mittens, hats, socks and baby outfits for her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed knitting Barbie Doll and baby doll dresses.

Gladys was predeceased by her husband, Howard in 1981; her brothers, Samuel, Ivan, Daniel, Robert, Cleatus, Beryl Jr.,  Lewis, Thomas and twin brother, Gerald; her sister, Esther Padrick; her brother-in-law, Fred B. Kimball Jr.; and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Q. Kimball.

Surviving are her children, Robert T. Kimball of Hope, Elray A. Kimball and his wife, Kimberly, of Rockport, Diane K. Kimball and her partner, Bruce R. Steele, of Camden, and Nancy Lee Pease of Rockland,; her grandchildren, Barbara Chapman, Tom Hodgkins, Bridget Kimball, Christopher Kimball, Elizabeth Kimball Carney, Sarah Steele and Katie-Grace Kimball; five great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Helen Satterthwaite.

The Kimball family extends special thanks to all the nurses and staff at the Knox Center for the wonderful care.

Calling hours will be held Friday, May 5, 5 to 7 p.m. at Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St. in Camden. Private burial will be held at Upper Cemetery in Lincolnville.

Memorial donations may be made to P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, P.O. Box 707, Rockport, ME 04856 or to United Mid-Coast Charities, P.O. Box 205, Camden, ME 04843.