1930 – 2015

WAYNE — Eloise Rand Ault, 84, died Friday evening, Jan. 2, at her home in Wayne, with her immediate family near.

She was born in Clinton on Dec. 30, 1930, the daughter of George E. Rand and Vera (Chalmers) Rand. After her mother, Vera, died in 1932, her father married Evelyn Chalmers, who filled the role of mother for Eloise, until her passing in 1989.

Early on in her life she was known as “Lois,” which carried on into adulthood. She became a seamstress and braider of rugs in her early years, and made her own clothes and dresses throughout her life. Braiding rugs was also a lifelong pastime. As a Girl Scout, she earned the complete line of merit badges for her varied talent in arts and crafts.

Cultivating flower and vegetable gardens was standard practice in the growing season and houseplants were present in her house all year-round. On her father’s death in 1945, she became proficient in baking pies, which were sold by her mother to a local restaurant.

During the summer, she enjoyed time spent at her uncle’s camp on China Lake. She attended school in Clinton, graduating from Clinton High School in 1948. She then attended Sisters of Charity School (Seaton Hospital) of Nursing in Waterville, receiving certification as a registered nurse in 1951.

She went on to practice her new profession at the Togus VA Hospital, Redington Memorial in Skowhegan and as a state of Maine public health nurse for Washington County in Machias. She attended Simmons College in Boston for a semester, incidental to her work in public health. In 1954, she was employed by Sisters’ Hospital in Waterville as a public health nurse.

Eloise was introduced to Peter Ault by one of her colleagues at Redington, Dora Lou Pakulski, in September 1954, at the time of his return from U.S. Army service in Korea. They were married in Clinton in April 1955.

The couple lived in East Rockaway, N.Y.; Springfield, Mass.; and in Orono at the University of Maine, before returning to Wayne in 1962. She was employed at each of these locations at local hospitals and at the University of Maine Infirmary from 1960 to 1962. During this period, two sons were born, George in 1956 and William in 1960. She continued to work in local hospitals in Augusta and Gardiner until 1971, commuting from her home on Morrison Heights in Wayne.

In 1971, she was employed as a substitute postal rural carrier and subsequently as rural carrier for Wayne and Fayette, until 1986. At this same time, she was becoming involved in Wayne government as a member of the Maine Sesquicentennial Committee and appointed chair of the Wayne Planning Board. As chairwoman of the Planning Board, she guided the town to establish regulations and ordinances that protect and preserve its rural character and water quality of lakes and streams. The Sesquicentennial Committee became the Historical Committee and today’s Historical Society, all of which have gathered, saved and archived Wayne historical documents and records for future generations to study and enjoy.

The 1998 Bicentennial Celebration generated significant interest and participation by the community and schoolchildren. Her own research resulted in a publication of Wayne’s Origin and Settlement Prior to 1802 and more recently established the historical origin of Wing Cemetery (Wayne’s “Wing Ring”).

She was also a member of Wayne’s Archival Board and a 40-year member of the Memorial Day Committee. At the state level, she served on the Board of Directors of the Maine State Museum from 1993 to 2000. She was also a participating member of the Livermore/Livermore Falls Historical Society, enjoying many tours to other New England historic sites.

Lois was a loving wife, mother and friend who gave her best effort to any endeavor undertaken, and we have all benefited from her success. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Peter Ault, of Wayne; sisters-in-law, Ora Rand of Albion, Elaine Ault of Winthrop, Ruth E. Ault, Norine Jewell and Elinor Ault of Wayne, Donna Ault of Yarmouth and Sara Fasciano of Reading, Mass.; brothers-in-law, Richard Ault and David Ault of Wayne; sons, George Ault of Wayne and William Ault of Norwalk, Conn.; two grandchildren, Elena and Julia Ault; dear friend and niece, Susan Constable, of Winslow; and many more nieces and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Her birth mother, Vera Rand, died in 1932. Her parents, George and Evelyn Rand; her sister, Catherine; and brother, John, also predeceased her.

Special thanks go to Dave, Gretchen, Molly and Chaplain Terry of Androscoggin Hospice, who provided strength and comfort in her last illness.

Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.