Mary Ellen Cushman Welsh

CLINTON – Mary Ellen Cushman Welsh, 87, of Clinton, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Aug. 17, 2025. She was born on May 27, 1938, in Hartland, to James Allerton Cushman and Leola Butler Cushman.

Unquestionably, Mary’s greatest joy came from spending time with her family. She was a wholly devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, with her love for her family always being nothing short of unconditional and undeniable. She loved her children very much and spent many years as Mom’s taxi driving them to Canaan Christian and later Clinton Christian schools in their adolescent years.

She married her childhood sweetheart and love of her life, Roy, whose love only blossomed throughout their incredible 68 years of marriage together. For the last 29 years, Mary and Roy were snowbirds and traveled to nearly every state within the USA that they were able to drive to. Much of this time they spent as members of the Sower Ministry, lending their time and talents working and/or assisting at various Christian campgrounds, schools, and organizations, while arguably and most importantly, making sure Roy kept busy…

She and Roy loved to go camping in their motorhome and when they were in Maine they were always camping somewhere on Memorial weekend, so her kids were driving all over Maine finding her to celebrate her birthdays…. They were always at Living Waters for Labor Day weekend, and Fryberg Fair was an annual event.

In Mary’s free time, she could be frequently found writing letters, stamping, and crafting beautiful handmade cards to send to friends and her many pen pals. Her unconditional love extended beyond just her family into the many facets of everyday life that most casually overlook. Her love for nurturing things was evident in her beautiful flower gardens and feeding the songbirds and her special pets – Woody the woodchuck and Chippy the chipmunk – there were many of them over the years! Roy put up with her love for the woodchucks and chipmunks while many other husbands would have shot them on sight!

Mary cultivated not only lovely gardens but also a family rooted in love and respect for all living things. Mary’s backyard pond was a wonderland where many children have fond memories of catching frogs and fish, always to put them back under Mary’s tender direction.

She is survived by her best friend and love of her life, Roy, her daughter Susan and husband Michael; her son Leroy and wife Kathe and their sons “Little Man” Myles and Caleb, her granddaughter Megan, and her very special “Little Miss” Gracelyn Hadley as well as her sister Martha Howard, brother-in-law William Weisher, nieces Emily and Katie and nephews Donnie and Kevin, and step-siblings Joanne Cushman and Dwayne Pillsbury.

Proberbs 31:10-31

The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 30 at 4 p.m. at Clinton Baptist Church, where she was a member for 60-plus years. There will be refreshments and fellowship following the service in the Fellowship Hall at Clinton Baptist.