Elizabeth R. (Ross)
Atherley, 96, wife of the late Robert W.
Atherley, died in the Caldwell Skilled
Nursing and Rehab Center on May 29, 2010 following her long illness.
Born in
Beverly
September 9, 1913, the
daughter of the late Herbert W. and Bessie (Foss) Ross, she was a
graduate of Beverly public schools. Married in 1932, the
Atherleys made their home and raised
their family on High Street in Ipswich. For many years she was
employed as a bookkeeper at her husband’s Bob’s
Esso gas and service station, formerly in Ipswich. She
enjoyed home gardening, cooking for her family and friends, bird
watching, antique collecting and sewing and their camp on Great Neck
in Ipswich. She was an avid boater, and in her later years loved
spending time with her husband fishing and boating at their cottage
in
Erroll,
NH. “Whoo-Whoo” as she was known to all,
was a gentle and loving grandmother and will be greatly missed.
She is
survived by her grandchildren, Deborah Somers Carter of NH, Karen
Somers of Lowell, Cynthia Murrey of CO,
Steven Somers of Ipswich and Mary Beth Somers of NH;
great-grandchildren Lindsay Wilcox of SC, Katherine Murray of CO,
Alex Somers of Ipswich and Max Somers of Ipswich; great-great
grandson Wyatt Carter Wilcox of SC; sisters Jenney Cronin of South
Hamilton and Helen Hulbert of Ipswich. She is also survived by a
son-in-law, Peter Somers of NH and several nieces and nephews. She
was predeceased by an infant son, Thomas
Atherly, a daughter, Janice Somers, formerly of
Ipswich, sisters Bertha
Smith, formerly of Ipswich and Bessie Wood of NH, and
brother Howard Ross, formerly of CA.
Her
funeral service will be held Saturday
June 19, 11 am graveside
in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are
respectfully welcomed. Arrangements by the
Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich.
