Editha Lear

Editha A. (Starkey) Lear, 86, died Sunday, May 30, 2010 following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late William Lear. Born in China, Maine on March 3, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Elwilda (Gilman) Starkey. Mrs. Lear was raised and educated in Maine and had been a Danvers resident for nearly fifty years before making her home in Salem for the last fifteen years. For over twenty years, Mrs. Lear was employed as a nurse’s aide at the former Hunt Memorial Hospital. She loved traveling and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and reading. She is survived by three daughters, Dorothy Lear of Springfield, MO, Joanne Gillissen and her husband Paul of Salem, and Priscilla Gipson and her husband Ray of Danvers, a brother, Richard Starkey of Maine, 7 grandchildren, Steven Cole, Stacy Workman, Jill Hills, Sandi Minigan, Shaun Gillissen, Heath Lear, and Dawn Ellenberger, and 5 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Donald Lear, and her siblings Ava, Abbie, Alice, Hortense, and George. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 9AM in St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Hobart St., Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Lear’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.