Carlene Bartlett Colbath '52

Carlene Bartlett Colbath, 91 of Madison, N.H., passed away at Maine Medical Center on July 10, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Carlene was born Feb. 16, 1933, to Nelson and Alegura (McAllister) Bartlett of Fryeburg, Maine, where she grew up and attended schools. On July 3, 1952, Carlene married her husband of 51 years, Yerrick Colbath. Yerrick had two sons at the time of their marriage and 13 years later he and Carlene welcomed their own two children.

Carlene worked numerous jobs in her younger years, but it wasn’t until the closing of the Carroll Reed distribution center in Conway that she was able to pursue her dreams. Carlene went back to school to obtain her GED and then attended Berlin Technical College to become a pastry chef.

She earned her culinary arts degree at the age of 60, something that she and her family was very proud of. After graduation she worked at Hannaford in North Conway, N.H., in their bakery until she was able to land her dream job with the Red Jacket Inn as their Pastry Chef where she was affectionately called Mrs. Sweets.

Outside of her work life, Carlene enjoyed numerous activities such as, hunting, camping, traveling, shopping, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hiking, walking, baking, gardening and playing with her dog’s Milly and Molly.

In her later years, she enjoyed outings with the Conway Recreation Department, lunches and outings with the Gibson Center.

In her late 80s, Carlene became a member of a local group known as the Loose Ladies who gather monthly for luncheons at various local restaurants.

Carlene was predeceased by her parents, Nelson and Alegura; a baby sister who had died at birth; her husband Yerrick, her brothers, Edward and his wife, Marjorie; Reginald and his wife, Ola; Ronald; Lloyd and his wife, Karen; Waine and his wife, Beverly; and Harlan and his wife, Martha; her son-in-law Bill Libby; stepson Gary Colbath; and stepdaughter-in-law Gerry Colbath.

Carlene will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Laurie Colbath Libby of Brownfield, Maine; her son Eric Colbath and his partner, Kim Spencer, of Center Harbor, N.H.; her stepson Pete Colbath of Blackshear, Ga.; and her stepdaughter-in-law Connie Colbath of Rapid City, S.D.; her grandchildren, Christian Hazzard and wife, Victoria; Emily Coughlin; Logan Libby and fiancee, Jennifer Clayton; Gerrick Colbath; Mia Colbath; along with step-grandchildren, Rory Colbath, Tammy Colbath Riggins, Gary Colbath Jr. and Angela Colbath.

Carlene is also survived by two great-grandsons, Dean and Samuel Hazzard; her sister Sandra and husband, David Lacy; her brother Lindon and wife, Wanda, Bartlett; sister-in-law Eleanor Bartlett; brother-in-law John Colbath; and many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors and of course her dog Molly.

A potluck celebration of Carlene’s life will be held on Oct. 13 at the David and Doris Hastings Community Center at 59 Recreational Drive in Fryeburg, Maine, from 1 to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gibson Center at 14 Grove St., North Conway, NH 03860; Mountain Garden Club, P.O. Box 913, North Conway, NH 03860; or Elaine Connors Center for Wildlife, P.O. Box 97, Madison, NH 03849.