Ella Payne, widow of ex-Maine governor

DAMARISCOTTA – Ella Payne of Waldoboro, widow of former Maine Gov. and U.S. Sen. Frederick Payne, died Monday at a nursing home where she lived. She was 97.

Payne was active in community affairs during the years her husband was in public office, as governor from 1949 to 1953 and senator from 1953 to 1959. She remained active late in life and still drove a car when she was in her 90s, said her nephew, John Miller of Eastport.

Payne was also an avid baseball fan, and hosted a number of major league teams with her husband at the couple’s summer home in Medomak. During her Blaine House years, she was known to have more than one television set or radio on at a time so she could keep up with the ball scores, Miller said.

“She was absolutely delighted to see the Boston Red Sox win the World Series” last month, said Miller.

Payne was born in Mars Hill and moved to Waldoboro when she was 11. She and her husband had two sons.

Funeral services are planned for Thursday in Waldoboro.