Swanville - SWANVILLE - Beatrice Tabbutt "Bea" Ellis, 90, dearly loved mother, grammie and great-grammie, left this world in the early morning hours of Sept. 19, 2012, at her daughter's home where she lived in her loving care since May. She was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Swanville, the daughter of Zenas Tabbutt and Flora (Seekins) Tabbutt.

Bea worked for many years as a certified nurse's aide until the age of 80 when she retired. She was well liked by her co-workers, who knew her as someone they could always count on to be there and lend the extra helping hand. She lived, fiercely independent, at her farmhouse in Swanville until November 2011. She will be remembered for her love of books, her forthright communication style, and her tenacious attitude.

She is survived by her youngest brother, Kenneth Tabbutt and his wife, Barbara, of Meridian, Idaho; her five children, Jack Z. Higgins Sr. of Merrimack, N.H., Arthur V. Ellis of Antrim, N.H., Willard R. Ellis and his wife, Carol, of Landisville, Pa., Florence R. Estabrook and her husband, Tim, of Frankfort and Laurie Allen and her husband, Mark, of Plains, Va.; nine grandchildren, Jack Higgins Jr., Jason Higgins, Mark Ellis, Courtney Whetzel, Brandon Ellis, Richard Clark III, Laurie Karnes, Caleb Allen and Tiffany Allen; as well as 23 great-grandchildren. Bea was predeceased by her sisters, Faye Plowman, Madelaine Sanborn, and Florence Tabbutt who died in childhood; her daughter-in-law, Lorraine Higgins; grandson, Erik Higgins; and husband, Willard B. Ellis, whom she married Nov. 9, 1941.

There will be a graveside service 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Greenlawn Cemetery, Swanville, with Pastor Rick Lambert officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bea's memory may be made to Greenlawn Cemetery Association, care of John Rohde, 12 Dockside Lane, Belfast, ME 04915. Arrangements are under the direction of Young Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 31 West Main St., Searsport.