AUBURN – Gertrude Vivian Pease Earley, 97, of 41 Pleasant St., The Chapman House, died Saturday, March 25, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice.

She was born on Oct. 28, 1908, in Lewiston, the daughter of Arthur L. and Cora R. Pease. Mrs. Earley graduated from Sabattus High School in 1928. She married Forrest H. Earley on Aug. 7, 1929, in Sabattus at the Community Baptist Church.

Both Forrest and Gertrude remained active in their church throughout their lifetimes. Soon after graduation from high school, she became a correspondent for the Lewiston Sun Journal, a position she held for 47 years. Throughout her years in Sabattus, she was active in community affairs and was town clerk for 24 years. She was also an employee of the United States Postal Department for 15 years.

She was a lifelong member of the Lakeside Chapter Order of Eastern Star, serving as past matron and past district deputy grand matron of the Grand Chapter of Maine, Order of Eastern Star. Her husband, Forrest, predeceased her in 1965.

Most recently, she resided at The Chapman House in Auburn – formerly the Auburn Home for Aged Women. On April 1, 2004, she was honored at the Hall of Flags in the State House in Augusta, in a ceremony honoring the lives of 38 Maine citizens who spent the better years of their lives making a difference for their families, communities, state and country.

She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Natalie E. Desmond and son-in-law, Paul Desmond, as well as four very devoted grandchildren, Michael Desmond and his wife, Terry, Kathleen Nickerson and her husband, Craig, Jennifer Wojenski and her husband, Edmund and Susan Desmond; also five great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Christopher and Matthew Desmond and Alexandra and Anna Kate Wojenski; also several nieces and nephews, Dexter Earley, Lois Gilbert, Jean Harp, Richard Caldwell and their respective families.

The family wants to thank The Chapman House for all the wonderful care and love that was extended to Gertrude since her move there in June 1999.

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