WINTHROP - Ava E. Ashley, 92, passed away peacefully at Heritage Rehabilitation and Living Center in Winthrop on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Ava was born in Anson on July 20, 1915, the daughter of Margaret and Otto Bahr. She graduated from Madison High School in 1933 and attended Farmington Normal School. She was employed for 25 years for the state of Maine in various departments. She was very active in the community. Her activities include; past president and treasurer of the Manchester Village Club, member and officer of the Manchester Grange, member of the Kennebec County Women's Republican Club, member and past president of the Cecelia Club, member of the Manchester Extension, member and Deaconess of the Manchester Community Church. Ava and her husband Arthur Ashley, who died in 1985, made their home at Rockledge on the Pond Road in Manchester. Ava loved tending her gardens, entertaining, doing things for people and spending time with her family and friends. She instilled the love of reading in her children by reading to them each night when they were young. Ava was also predeceased by her parents; two sisters, Frieda Schaus and Hildegarde Lovejoy; a brother, Otto Bahr; and a cousin, Dr. Inge Fick. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Tim Kelly of Dixfield; a son and daughter-in-law, Arthur and Sharon Ashley of Islesboro; four grandchildren, William Kelly and his wife, Julie, of Westborough, Mass., Kimberly Huchel and her husband, Jason, of South Portland, Harland Turner and his wife, Michele, of Bellingham, Wash., and Jennifer Lovett and her husband, Kurtt, of Wichita, Kan.; four great-grandchildren, Jack and Owen Kelly, Abigail Huchel and Hendrix Lovett; two nephews, Daniel Bahr and Bill Lovejoy. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, at the Manchester Community Church, with Rev. Ernest Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Manchester Community Church, P.O. Box 23, Manchester ME. 04351. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church St., Augusta. www.khrfuneralhomes.com.