WINSLOW – Louise May (Shores) Bellows, 90, of Winslow, Maine, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 6, 2023.

Louise was born on Aug. 23, 1932, in Fairfield, Maine, the eldest child to Erlon and Gladys (Brawn) Shores. The family soon relocated to Albion, Maine, where Louise attended the Bessey School until the end of her 8th-grade year. Louise attended high school in Winslow, where she met her soulmate, Cecil Bellows, and became a graduating member of the class of 1951.

Louise married Cecil in Benton Falls Maine on June 28, 1952. The couple welcomed their first son in 1953 and their second son in 1959.

Louise raised her sons and some of her siblings, all while helping Cecil run Bellows Texaco in Winslow. They later managed the school busing for Winslow, Waterville, Vassalboro and China. Louise continued her duties alongside her husband Cecil, until his untimely passing on October 19, 1988, and then with her son, for over 55 years.

Louise’s first priority in life was to ensure her family was taken care of, but beyond that, she thrived in taking care of everyone she came across.

Throughout her time on this earth, Louise enjoyed many activities with her friends and family such as camping on Moosehead Lake and watching both her sons participate in stock car racing. Louise welcomed seven grandchildren and enjoyed all their activities some of which were also stock car racing and horse racing. Louise also enjoyed shopping with the grandchildren, lawn-saleing and dinner at the China Dinah. Louise was also able to welcome 11 of her 14 great-grandchildren. Every year Louise insisted on hosting all the holiday dinners for the entire family at her home and she made it a point to visit her brothers on “the farm” multiple times a week, bringing them “snacks”. Truth be told that was just an excuse to check in on them. Louise was a firm believer in showing her love by feeding everyone.

When Route 201 was a major trucking route she would often feed some of the drivers who made reoccurring fuel stops on their way through and would often board and feed other stock car drivers and their family or crew if she deemed their return home at night to be too long.

Louise had a heart of gold and loved to share it with the world around her. She will be loved forever and missed immensely.

Louise was predeceased by her parents, Erlon and Gladys Shores, her step mom Beverly Shores, her husband Cecil Bellows, brother Herbert and his wife Nelly Shores, brothers Fred, Donald and Dale Shores.

Louise is survived by her sister in law Lois Shores, sister Gloria and husband Ronald Gregory, brother Amasa Shores and partner Darlene, brothers Allen and Danny Shores, her sons Edward Bellows and wife Marie, Robert Bellows and wife Marie her spare daughters Donna Drapeau Bellows and Cindy Rafuse, her grandchildren Brad Bellows and partner Jane, Casey Bellows, Kristie Bellows and husband Jim Wagg, Bryan Bellows and partner Stephanie, Roberta Bellows and partner Kayden, Bobby Bellows and partner Tayla, Nicole Genest and husband Todd, step granddaughters Montana and Donna Roy and many beloved nieces and nephews who spent much time by her side during their childhoods as well as into their adulthood. Louise is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren, Johnathan, Parker, Kylie, Olivia, Dinah, Judith, Carson, Jacob, Bryden, Caleb, baby girl Genest, Scarlett, Bryce and Freya.

Graveside service at McClintock Cemetery, Nowell Road in Winslow will be held at 11 a.m., on June 4., followed by a potluck celebration of life at Winslow VFW from 12 – 4 p.m. Please email if you are able to bring a dish mcamera@live.com or Facebook Marie Camera Bellows.

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