NORTH MONMOUTH - Gladys Elizabeth 'Libby' Williams, 81, of Wilson Pond Road died on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, surrounded by her children. Libby was born in a snowstorm on May 4, 1923, in Farmingdale, the daughter of Clarence Alvra and Gladys Randall Pettengill. She was the second of 11 children. Some of her youngest years were spent in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, before her family settled on 'the farm' in Mount Vernon. She attended schools in Mount Vernon and West Mount Vernon before graduating from Monmouth Academy in 1943. While going to school in Monmouth, she boarded with the Chick family on Maple Street. Being away from home was a new experience for her, and she enjoyed spending time with her classmates, many of whom became lifelong friends. Libby married Jack Francis Williams on Dec. 25, 1943, in Mount Vernon. Libby and Jack raised their family in Winthrop, Kents Hill, Mount Vernon, Readfield and finally North Monmouth, were they settled in 1959. During much of this time, Libby worked at home raising her seven children, but worked part time now and then to help support the family. She made and sold stuffed animals and had jobs with Bona Fide in Winthrop, picking potatoes for Nasons, and picking apples at Kents Hill Orchards, among other things. Libby loved her life growing up on the farm, and often spoke of it with fond memories, especially stories of working in her flower gardens, fun times with her brothers and sisters, and picking fresh cherries off the trees. After marrying, Libby and Jack had large gardens for many years, and she would spend much time in the fall canning vegetables for the family. She had many hobbies over the years, including collecting dolls, Ty bears and many other collectibles. She loved lawn 'saling,' flower gardening, collecting coins, her special kitty friend Blanche, spending time with her large family (including four trips to Idaho to visit her sister and her family), and over the last 15 years, watching her great-grandchildren grow. She was a wonderful wife and mother and a hardworking, tough woman who will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Libby was predeceased by her parents; her husband of 56 years, Jack; two brothers, Clarence Pettengill and George Pettengill; and a grandson, William Mercier. She is survived by her seven children, John Williams and his wife, Ardith, of North Monmouth, Robert Williams and his wife, Jeanette, of Mount Vernon, Roger Williams and his wife, Elida, of Lewiston, Shirley Collins and her husband, Larry, of Greene, Sally Manson of Lewiston, Priscilla Mercier and her husband, George, of North Monmouth, and Robin Williams and her partner, Tamars Kaplan (with whom she had resided for the past year), of West Gardiner; four brothers, Herbert Pettengill, Ernest Pettengill and Alfred Pettengill, all of Winthrop, and Arthur Pettengill of Wayne; four sisters, Permelia Ridley of Wilton, Mildred Dyer of Monmouth, Dorothy Blake of Poland and Susie Crystal of Pocatello, Idaho; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; several cousins; and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Roberts Funeral Home, 68 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19. Spring burial will occur in Glenside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: American Heart Association, Attn: Memorial Donations, 343 Gorham Road, South Portland 04106.