ELLSWORTH – Patricia Gardner Edwards, 95, died peacefully on Feb. 8, 2021, at Courtland Rehab and Living Center in Ellsworth, where her quick wit and playful spirit endeared her to the staff and residents. She was born in Houlton, Maine, on July 31, 1925, the daughter of Halbert P. Gardner and Dorothy White Tibbetts. She liked to say she was born in a potato patch in Aroostook. At a young age she and her mother moved to Rangeley where she grew up, graduating from Rangeley High, class of 1943.

After graduation she enrolled in the Central Maine General Hospital School of Nursing as a Cadet in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, graduating with an R.N. in 1947. Nursing meant a great deal to mother, she was always proud to be a nurse. She had many roles in nursing, from duty nurse to director of nursing at a care facility to office nurse for two urologists to neighborhood care giver. It was as a student nurse that she met her husband, Nelson (Buzz) Edwards. They had 71 years together when he died in 2016.

Pat is survived by her son, Gary and his wife Jeanne of Sullivan Maine, daughter, Elizabeth Anne (Betsy) Bowman of Montana; granddaughter, Rebecca Bowman West and husband Jonathan of Montana, grandson, Mark Edwards, his wife Grace and sons, Nelson and William of Alaska; brother, Michael Tibbetts of Jay, sister-in-law, Elma Marzilli of Portland, brother-in-law, Burt Edwards of South Portland, many nieces and nephews as well as a lifetime of special friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, a special granddaughter, Jennifer Lynne Edwards and son-in-law, Jeffrey Bowman.

You are invited to leave a message at the family’s online guest book by visiting http://www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of The Fortin Group/Plummer and Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation, and Monument services 217 Turner St. Auburn 04210.

Donations in Pat’s memory may be made to The Court Street United Baptist Church

129 Court Street

Auburn, ME 04210

CMGH/CMMC School of Nursing Alumni Association scholarship,

70 Middle Street,

Lewiston, Maine 04240.

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