BELGRADE LAKES – Elizabeth “Betty” Clement Grant, 79, of Belgrade Lakes, died peacefully, Monday evening, May 23, 2011, in the comfort of her “adopted family’s” home David and Sylvia “Peanut” Sprague, Belgrade Road, Mt. Vernon, along with her caretaker Jane Steeb, her life long friend Maryanna El-Tahar and her dog “Binky” by her side.
Betty, an only child, was born on June 16, 1931, in Augusta, the daughter of Donald and Edna (Gagnon) Clement. She received her education in Lawrence schools and was a graduate of Madison High School. She continued her education at Westbrook Junior College and returned home to work for the state. For many years, she worked with her
folks at the Clements Camps on Long Pond.
Gifted musically, she taught piano and dance lessons for many years and was an accomplished jazz performer, singing at a variety of venues around the state, including Emma’s in Waterville, the Village Inn Lounge in Belgrade Lakes and volunteering her time to play the piano at the Alfond Cancer Center and the Cohen Center in Augusta.
In January of 1971, she married Clayton Grant. For many years she was a real estate agent and owned Grant’s Real Estate in Belgrade Lakes. She and her husband enjoyed many happy and fulfilling years as owners of the Woodland Camps on Great Pond and made many lasting friendships with those who came to enjoy the Belgrade Lakes Region.
Betty was a committed member of the Community and served on the Planning Committee for the Town of Belgrade and the Board of Directors for the Belgrade Health Care Center. She was a choir director for many years at the Belgrade Union Church and was a member of the Methodist Church in Oakland. She was also a volunteer advocate for Grey Hound Rescue, a patient advocate at Maine General Medical Central in Waterville and in her free time, enjoyed teaching aerobics at the Center For All Seasons and the Alfond Center in Waterville.
Betty was a determined, willful woman who could accomplish nearly any goals she set for herself (or for those whom she loved); music was her passion, but her talents also included knitting, sewing, cooking and teaching any and all of her talents to others as well. She touched many lives, gathered friends easily and was a generous spirit. She enjoyed the many roles that she played in the lives of those whom she considered as family — mother, mentor, confidante, and most especially, trusted friend.
She is survived by her “adopted” family, Sylvia “Peanut” Sprague and her husband, David of Mt. Vernon and their son Kevin Sprague, Jennifer Mcleod and grandchild Skye Mcleod-Sprague; Olive and Bob Corson of Smithfield and cousin Paul Meserve and his wife Barbara of Rangeley, her dog “Binky” and cat “Sassy.”
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Clayton who died in 1982 and her “adopted” granddaughter Tanya Sprague who passed in October of 2000.
A public memorial service, remembering and honoring the life of Betty, will be held Saturday morning, May 28 at 11
a.m. from the Center For All Seasons, Rte. 27, Belgrade Lakes. Remembrance gifts may be given in her memory to the Humane Society of one’s choice. A reception will follow the services at the Center and her musician friends are welcome to come and share in a jam session to honor her love of music.
Condolences and tributes may be shared with her friends and family at www.wilesrc.com. Cremation and memorial service arrangements are in the care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Rd., (Rtes. 2 & 27) Farmington.
