Obituary: Myrtle “Mickie” Elwell
January 14, 1937 – August 13, 2024
August 23, 2024
Myrtle “Mickie” Elwell, 1937–2024
Myrtle “Mickie” Elwell, 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She recently moved to The Gary Residence in Montpelier but was previously a longtime resident of Newport and Waitsfield, Vermont.
Mickie (a nickname given by her best friend in third grade) was born on January 14, 1937, in Duxbury, Vermont, to Alfred and Bertha (Church) Eastman. She was the seventh of eight children.
Mickie grew up in the Waterbury/Duxbury area and graduated from Waterbury High School in 1955. Shortly after graduation, she married Roger Hayes and they made their home in Moretown, Vermont. After just 2 1/2 years of marriage, she became a widow following a tragic logging accident. She found true love again with Adrian Elwell, celebrating 64 incredible years together until he passed away in December 2023.
She and Adrian lived in Moretown, expanding their family, and they eventually moved to Waitsfield. Their family grew once again, and they settled into raising the children and starting their businesses. First and foremost, Mickie was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She created a supportive and loving home for her family and warmly welcomed anyone who might need a secure place to land... for a while or just a few hours. It was her family-first values, presence, steadfast dependability, and resilience that laid a solid foundation her family could rely on. She was the heart (and glue) of the family.
In addition to being a homemaker, Mickie provided bookkeeping and operational support for the Village Square Mobil Station, a full-service station with towing, repairs, and fuel that she and Adrian owned in Waitsfield. Together, they also started A.E. Elwell and Son, a purebred Polled Hereford cattle business. She was known to pack a smorgasbord of food when her family went out on the road to show the cattle, as she didn’t want her kids always filling up on “greasy fair food.”
While her husband and kids were on the road, Mickie was tasked with overseeing the service station, taking care of the herd at home, and tending to lawns, gardens, etc. She occasionally joked about how she got the raw end of the deal during show season – but she was more than capable and always thrilled to see her kids spending time with their dad doing something they all loved.
Mickie was known for providing comfort and care through food. Her cooking never disappointed – all of us will recall a favorite dish or sweet treat she lovingly prepared, especially buckeyes during the Christmas holiday! One of her greatest joys was spending time with family, and many of the best Elwell family memories were gatherings that involved sharing a meal. She was quick to offer her home for special occasions like family reunions, showers, or other celebrations.
After selling the service station, her culinary skills along with her genuinely warm and kind personality opened an opportunity to work as the house manager at a corporate retreat in Waitsfield, the Great Lakes Carbon Farm. Along with Adrian, she carried forth a legacy of creating an atmosphere of a down-home farmhouse inn, preparing tasty country-style meals for the guests, who often requested a recipe to take home with them. Everything they did together seemed to be a partnership, and beyond work, goals were achieved because they relied on each other’s strengths and skills to make life abundant.
Mickie enjoyed traveling with Adrian, the family, and many good friends over the years; journeys that took them to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alaska, New Orleans, Hawaii and Bermuda to name a few places. After retirement, they spent several years as “snowbirds” in Florida where she took pleasure in making new acquaintances. Mickie always welcomed a visit from anyone who stopped by. Evening rides with Adrian and watching the Red Sox were other favorite pastimes.
Mickie was a woman of faith, which she leaned on mightily over the years. She was a member of the Moretown Methodist Church and actively participated in church activities and leadership. She had a generous soul and could be found helping with the annual yard sale, church dinners, church school, and even playing the role of a wise man in the Christmas pageant when there were not enough kids for all the parts. After she and Adrian retired, they moved to Newport, Vermont, where they became part of the Orleans Federated Church family.
Mickie leaves her children: Katherine Hayes White (David) of Barton, Vermont; Eric Elwell (Deborah) of Litchfield, Connecticut; Andrea Cook (Reginald) of Westmore, Vermont; and Jada Munro (Jeffrey Breault) of Waitsfield, Vermont; her grandchildren Chris, Heather, Amanda, Zak, Olivia, Shelby, Mackenzie and Mikayla; nine great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren; her brothers-in-law Reginald and Daryl both of Moretown; a special niece, Raya McCuen, and several other nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by brothers Robert, Howard and Burton Eastman, sisters Marion Self, Phyllis Davis, Mae Jennison and Betty McNaulty Untiedt, brother-in-law Craig Elwell, and grandchildren Melissa White, and Troy and Evan Elwell.
Her kind heart, loving nature and welcoming spirit will be deeply missed by her family and those who knew her.
The family wishes to express appreciation to the staff at The Gary Residence, Kelley Elwell, and the doctors, nurses, and staff at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital for the exceptional support, care and compassion shown to our mother.
There will be a private graveside service at the convenience of the family. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at a time and place to be determined.
If desired, please consider a memorial contribution to Moretown Methodist Church, P.O. Box 516, Moretown, VT 05660, or Orleans Federated Church, P.O. Box 132, Orleans, VT 05860.