Nellie Lemaire

Nellie M. Lemaire, 91, of Safford passed away on Friday, October 7, 2011 in Safford. She was born on July 19, 1920 in Boston, MA, to John Durgin and Nellie May Place Durgin. She married Joel P. Lemaire on February 10, 1940 in Taunton, MA. Nellie graduated from Taunton High School, Cum Laude with a scholarship to college but chose to marry Joel who with his brother Bill operated Sabatia Lake Farm in Taunton where they lived until 1954. At that time they moved to E. Bridgewater, MA. Nellie worked at the Brockton VA Hospital until 1960, when the family moved to Phoenix, AZ. later they moved to Missouri and then to Colorado before moving to Safford in 1992 to be near her family. Nellie was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Thatcher. She loved spending time with her family especially reading to her great great grandchildren, Nellie was an accomplished seamstress. She loved her vegetable garden and reading. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Ratliff of Safford; sons, Jeff (Bonnie) Lemaire of Wickenburg, AZ, and Jack (Carol) Lemaire of Arizona City, AZ; brother-in-law, Wayne Allen of Lakeville, MA; 5 grandchildren, Richard Strangman of MA, Scott Ratliff of Safford, Paul Lemaire and Marc Lemaire of Mesa, and Betsy Nunn of Wickenburg; 11 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. A number of beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joel in 1998, 4 sisters, Ruth, Madeline, Mabel, and Mary, and Foster sisters, Eva and Dorothy. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Thatcher with Pastor Odell Henderson officiating. Friends may call from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Church. Interment will be in the Safford Cemetery.