FRANKFORT - FRANKFORT - Ella Cecelia Nickerson Tripp quietly slipped away Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at her home. She was born Feb. 24, 1915, in Bangor, to George Welden and Mary Ellen (Bradley) Nickerson. Cecelia attended Searsport schools and graduated from Searsport High School as salutatorian in 1931. She graduated from Farmington Normal School in 1933. While raising her family, she taught and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. She had many credits towards her master's degree. Cecelia retired in 1975 after teaching 27 years. She headed several committees and became president of Epsilon chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a member of Waldo County Education Association - retired, and Belfast Teacher's Club, for 37 years was a member of the Rebekah's and Granite Grange of North Searsport. Cecelia was a loyal member of North Searsport United Methodist Church and was active in its Sunday school, held offices and was president of the Ladies Club. She was a member of Penobscot Expedition chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, trustee of Green Lawn Cemetery, and secretary and trustee of Union-Smart Cemetery, Belfast. She married Clarence E. Tripp, July 18, 1937. They had 62 years of happily married life. They bought and lived in the same house all of their lives. They spent many happy hours at their cottage on Swan Lake. They liked to travel and visited much of the Eastern United States and several countries in Europe. After Clarence's death, daughter Doris continued to live with and care for her. Although she loved teaching, her first love was her family. Her home was the focal point of many gatherings of family, friends and neighbors. There was always plenty of tea and cookies to add to the fun and laughter. She enjoyed reading, knitting, quilting, gardening and poetry writing. Later she spent pleasant hours working on puzzles and playing cribbage with Doris. Cecelia is survived by her loving and loved family: sons, Welden and Robert Tripp; daughters, Doris Tripp and Dawn and James Landry; daughter-in-law, Sally Tripp, all of Frankfort, and Sharon and David Michaud of Gorham; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews will also miss her. Cecelia had been the matriarch of her family for years. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Clarence; her son, Gary; her six sisters, Doris and Helen Nickerson, Julia Pease, Mildred Hersom, Madeline Dow and Mary Grindle; brother, Carlton Bailey; and grandson, Peter Michaud. Family and friends will gather for visitation 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday at North Searsport United Methodist Church with Pastor Steve Macleod officiating. Interment will be at Union-Smart Cemetery, Belfast, after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Cecelia's memory may be made to North Searsport United Methodist Church Building Fund, in care of Doris Tripp, 55 Lake Road, Frankfort, ME 04438 or the Smile Train - Dept. Mag., P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231.