Ella Conger

1923 - 2014

Ella Ruth (Gilman) Conger

SANDWICH - CONGER, Ella Ruth (Gilman) of Sandwich, died peacefully August 20, 2014 at the age of 91. She was married to the late Edmund Ross Conger for almost 50 years; beloved mother of Carol and her husband Clay Johnson of San Antonio TX, and Elaine and her husband Kent Darsch of Sandwich MA. She was grandmother to Erica and her husband Doug Robinson-Johnson of Reading MA, Nolan and his wife Katie Johnson of Morrisville PA, and Alicea and her husband William Kelley of Dennisport MA. Great-grandmother to Evan, Chase, Colby, Sam, J.D., and Alexandria.

Born at home in Mars Hill ME to Carol Elroy and Grace Mercedith (Durost) Gilman, she had two brothers, Frank and John. As a teenager, she moved to Massachusetts to attend Becker Junior College in Worcester, where she earned a secretarial degree and began her career. She worked for several physicians, Fairlawn Hospital and then eighteen years for the English Department at Clark University where she concurrently earned her B.A. in liberal arts and a Masters degree in creative writing at the age of 62. She won two short story prizes and one playwriting prize at Clark and submitted her thesis novel for publication. She is the author of Indian Summer, a young adult novel based on her childhood memories in Aroostook County ME, and Caty's Shoes, a children's book illustrated by her grandson Nolan Johnson. Last month, her daughter Carol published a book of poems Ella had written spanning eight decades.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Worcester MA and San Carlos Presbyterian Church in Ft. Myers FL. She retired to Ft. Myers FL and spent summers camping on Long Lake in Bridgton, ME with friends and family. In 2008 she relocated to Massachusetts to live closer to her family.

A memorial service will be at United Parish of Auburndale, 64 Hancock, Newton, Saturday, August 23, at 11:00 a.m. Her family recommends memorial gifts include the purchase of children's books for schools and libraries or donations to a local hospice.

For online condolences visit johnlawrencefuneralhome.com