ELIOT – Carolyn Mae Hale, 81, of Eliot, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

She was born on August 28, 1935, the daughter of the late Merritt and Marion (Shuttleworth) Shapleigh.

Carolyn met Dana Hale while they were both students at Eliot High School. The high school sweethearts married in December 1952 and shared almost 63 years of marriage before Dana's death in September 2015.

Carolyn was a Coast Guard wife and homemaker. She was "the rock" for her family during moves and Dana's deployments. Their favorite duty station was Burnt Island Light off Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where the family developed a life-long love of lighthouses.

After Dana's retirement and return to Eliot, Carolyn became involved in her community. She was a long time member of the Eliot Lions Club where she held every office and was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award. She was also the coordinator for Project Share for many years and a member of the Eliot Congregational Church.

Carolyn is survived by her daughters Debra Hale and her husband Michael Weit of Newmarket, NH, Cathy Copadis and her husband Vasilios (Bill) Copadis of Anchorage, AK, and Karen Hale and her husband Brian Pritchett of Eliot, ME; grandchildren Katharina and Bradford Weit of Newmarket, NH, Alexander Copadis and his wife Aimee of Haslet, TX, Kimberly Chernikoff and her husband Curtis of Colorado Springs, CO, and Dakodah and Haley Pritchett of Eliot, ME; great-grandchildren Hayden Copadis and Anastasia Chernikoff; sisters Patricia Witham of Eliot, Marjorie Bailey of South Berwick, Marcia Goss of Eliot, and brother William Shapleigh of Eliot. Her brother Merritt Shapleigh, Jr. predeceased her. Eliot Lions Club members were also part of the family as was her beloved Chihuahua, Cherry.

Carolyn loved going out to lunch each week and her monthly sibling dinners. The backyard held many bird feeders where she enjoyed feeding and watching the wild birds. She was very happy to see bluebirds return this winter. Carolyn was a huge Tim Janis fan and enjoyed listening to his cds and attending his concerts.

SERVICES: A memorial service will be celebrated at 1:00 pm on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at the First Congregational Church UCC, 1361 State Road, Eliot with The Rev. Dr. Beth Hoffman officiating. Family flowers only, memorial donations in Carolyn's memory may be made to the Eliot Lions Club, c/o Hector MacKenzie, P.O. Box 166, Kittery, ME 03904 or the First Congregational Church of Eliot, 1361 State Rd, Eliot, ME 03903.