SANFORD – Lovey Ethel Petersen, 94, most recently a resident of Acton, died Tuesday evening, Jan. 11, at the Goodall Hospital in Sanford.

She was born next to the youngest of 12 children, on July 9, 1910 in Hartford, a daughter of Edward and Lovey Merrill Bryant. Lovey attended the local grammar school and was a 1928 graduate of Canton High School.

In 1931, she married John W. Ames and together raised a large family in Maine and California. He passed away in 1989. She later married Norman Petersen in 1990 in Braintree, Mass. He passed away in 1991.

In 1995, she moved to Acton, from Massachusetts to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who was the center of the family. Lovey enjoyed making crafts and reading.

She is survived by six sons and their wives, Nehemiah and Brenda Ames of Sanford, Guy and Helen Ames of Florida, James and Adelle Ames of California, Matthew and Margaret Ames of Nevada, Phillip Ames of California, and Kenneth Ames of Nevada; three daughters and their husbands, Vashti L. and John Noland of Acton, Jonquil and Patrick Presby of California, and Mary and John Winchell of Patten; 33 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and two step-sons, Dick Petersen of Massachusetts and Stanley Petersen of Maine.

She was predeceased by three children, Nora Richter and Herbert, and Michael Ames.