Ellen M. “Sally” Colby, 83, of Wiscasset, died on the morning of Jan. 11, 2015 at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. Her daughter Katie and husband Richard, son Bill, and son Dana and wife Pamela, all held her close as she passed.

Sally was born on March 8, 1931 to Allen S. and Ellen I. (Lambert) Hermson in Gardiner. She grew up in Wiscasset and attended Wiscasset Grammar School. She graduated from Wiscasset Academy in 1949.

As a young mother, she loved to take children to the beach, usually two carloads, one with her and another with her best friend, Vern Cronk. Sally and Vern would race to get there first. “Pass ‘em Mama,” “Pass ‘em Sally” was often heard from the back seat.

Sally also enjoyed cooking. Her favorites were homemade spaghetti for the kids and grandkids. At get-togethers, she would cook up fried seafood with her own special batter recipe, of which, she gave to her good friend, Al G. of Red’s Eats.

Sally worked at Clarostat Manufacturing in Richmond until it closed. She then worked for Cooper Industries Arrow Hart until 1994, when a stroke left her paralyzed on one side and speech impaired.

Sally enjoyed playing music, and played 33 rpm records on her old pop up top Hi-Fi. She loved to dance the Watusi, and she gained the name “Watusi Mam” by the kids.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Allen, Robert and Walter; step-daughter, Cathy Colby; niece, Paula Hersom; and nephews, Bobby and Micky Hersom.

She is survived by her son, Dana and wife Pamela Soule; daughter, Katie Rackliff and her husband Richard; son, Bill Colby and his wife Bobbi Jo; step-daughter, Cindy Chadwick and her husband Jeff; grandchildren, Cari, Adam, Sarah and Ashley Soule, Heidi and Celeste Rackliff, Cassidy and Will Colby, and Ryan and Tyler Chadwick; great-grandchildren, Haley Soule, Izabella Calendar and Gavin Lincoln; nephews, Allen, Bob, Randy and Chris Hersom; as well as nieces, Susan, Julie and Star Hersom.

There will be a celebration and memorial for Sally at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta. Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting: www.stronghancock.com.