CHESTERVILLE – Belle Elizabeth Hurd, 56, passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, May 15th, at her home surrounded by her loving family after a short battle with cancer.

She was born in Avon on Jan. 18, 1948, a daughter of Henry and Alice (Cushman) Purington. She married Ronald Hurd in Gardiner on Jan. 2, 1988.

She spent most her life working in the shoe manufacturing business as a stitcher. She worked at G.H. Bass, Farmington Shoe and Etonic Shoe. She later worked at Dennis Pizza and McDonald’s Bakery in Gardiner. She spent her later years as a caretaker for Carolyn Muzzy and was working as a C.N.A. at Orchard Park Rehabilitation Center when she became ill.

She loved the outdoors. She liked to go camping and enjoyed playing card games. She loved to cook big meals and have her family close to her. She liked to do jigsaw puzzles and play computer games. Being with her family made her happiest.

In addition to her loving husband of 16 years, she is survived by her mother, Alice Purington; two children, LouAnn Harris and husband, Jeff of Chesterville and Steven Allen and wife, Teresa of Farmington; three step-daughters, Ronda Haskell and husband, Mike of Gardiner, Grace Palmer and husband, Mike of Gardiner and Christal Hurd of Gardiner; eight grandchildren, Kayla, Jeffrey, Shawna, Steven, Michelle, Shawn, Dylan and Abigail; a grandchild not yet born and several brothers and sisters.

In addition to her father, she is predeceased by son Donald J. Allen and four sisters, Naomi Purington, Lorelei Purington, Tracy Purington, and baby girl Purington.