AUBURN – Ruth Elizabeth Bunnell, 89, of Madrid, died Sunday, March 18, at the Androscoggin Home Hospice in Auburn, where she had been a patient for the past week following a short illness.

She was born on the family farm, Aug. 27, 1917, in Madrid, the daughter of Elwin and Helen (Haley) McLaughlin.

She graduated from Phillips High School in the Class of 1935.

She married Phillip Bunnell on Sept. 16, 1935. He died Nov. 20, 1993.

Ruth lived on the family farm in Reeds Mills, until experiencing ill health in 2004. She then went to live with her granddaughter, Crystal, and family in Salem.

She enjoyed being a housewife and mother and taking care of their two homes, in Strong in the winter and the farm in Reeds Mills in the summer, until 1961. She enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and going on fishing trips in the wilderness each summer with her family and friends. She was known for her hospitality for lost hikers and for helping out people in need who showed up at the farm.

She joined the Reeds Mills Ladies Sewing Circle at the age of eight and became treasurer for many years, until her ill health. She enjoyed playing cards with her grandchildren and friends into the wee hours of the morning. Everyone enjoyed her homemade doughnuts.

She is survived by two sons, Kenneth of Kingfield and Karl and his wife, Diana, of Reeds Mills, Madrid; a daughter, Elinor Chadbourne of Salem; grandchildren, Earl and his wife, Terry, of Pennsylvania, Scott and his wife, Julie, of Kingfield, Craig of Avon, Heidi and her husband, Rob Elliott, of Strong, Crystal and her husband, Charles Newell, of Salem, and Rhonda and her husband, Peter Coffren, of Salem; great-grandchildren, Shiloh Bunnell of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Newell, Sierra Newell and fiancé, Eric St. Pierre, and Lucas Newell, all of Salem, David Coffren and girlfriend, Cassie Pern, of Strong, and Philip Coffren of Salem; and great-great-grandchildren, Lauren Elliott and Dominic Coffren of Strong, and Elijan Coffren of Strong.

She was predeceased by a grandson, Randy.