1950 – 2003

PERU – Devon Ezell Waugh died at her home in Peru on June 17, in the company of family and friends, after a long courageous battle with cancer that touched and inspired all who shared or witnessed it.

Born Devon Cahill Ezell, Oct. 22, 1950, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., she attended Fort Lauderdale public schools and Wheaton College and lived in Florida and Cambridge, Mass., before moving to Dickvale, West Peru in 1972.

Over the years she worked at various jobs, carpenter, shipping manager and pastry chef among them, before discovering her true avocation: massage therapy. In 1998 she graduated from the Downeast School of Massage, became a certified massage therapist and established a practice in the Rumford/Mexico area.

She was diagnosed with malignant melanoma shortly thereafter, but despite a treatment regimen that demanded much travel and hospital time, her strong hands and healing nature attracted and sustained a devoted clientele.

Along the way her various activities endeared her to a wide circle of friends and admirers. She was the first female firefighter in the Peru Fire Department, she was a volunteer coordinator at Peru Elementary for many years, she was a superb cook and gardener, who shared her knowledge with all who sought it, she was much beloved by children, many of whom looked upon her as a second mother.

Though she was endlessly productive in all facets of her life, one can no more measure her life by its deeds than measure a river on its run to the sea. But, if there is a single act which best exemplifies her profoundly generous nature, that must surely be her service as a surrogate mother for her husband’s brother and his wife. This act of selflessness – in which she carried to term an embryo fertilized in vitro and implanted in her womb – produced a healthy nephew, now approaching his ninth birthday, who still refers to Aunt Devon as his “Special Angel” and brought Devon a joy nearly equal to that of the new parents.

Survivors include her husband, Nick Waugh of Peru; two daughters, Kaiya Korb of Waitsfield, Vt., and Caitlin Waugh of Peru; parents, Howard and Marilyn Ezell of Amelia Island, Fla.; sister, Lynn Beshany of Denver, Colo.; brother, Michael Ezell of Atlanta, Ga.; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers and sister-in-law.