Marion Luella "Lou" Ellsworth, 86.

• Position: DEATHS

BARRE Marion Luella "Lou" Ellsworth of Barre, Massachusetts, died Friday, April 8, 2011 at the age of 86, peacefully in her sleep at her home in Barre.

Born in Petersham, Massachusetts, October 5, 1924, to Leslie W. Bassett of Barre, a farmer, and Marion M. Mann of Winchendon, a homemaker. She is predeceased by her husband, William W. Ellsworth, whom she married in August 26, 1941 and was the love of her life. She is also predeceased by her parents, and her three brothers, Everett Bassett, Edward Bassett, and Elwin Bassett.

Lou spent over 25 years driving for the elementary school in Petersham, Massachusetts. She thought of each of the children on the bus as her own, and still told stories of each boy and girl, remembering them fondly. After retiring from bus driving, she worked at Harvard Forest, in Petersham for a few years, as well as cleaning house for various folks. She tended to children in her home, both family and friends. There wasn't a child who met her she didn't think of as her own.

She was an avid hiker, walking much of the Appalachian Trail in New England with her brother, 'Colonel' (Ernest Bassett), while in her 60's. She had a motorcycle license, and enjoyed to off road. She also loved knitting and sewing, and working in her gardens. And no one will forget the year she skunked 'the boys' and got the only deer. Lou, or Gram as so many called her, was fond of demonstrating just how versatile she could be. She loved the outdoors, crafting, animals, and most especially...