->AUGUSTA -- Ruth Elizabeth Eastman Lee, 88, of MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care at Glenridge, Augusta, formerly of Maine Lee Morgan Horse Farm in Manchester, died Jan. 8, 2009.An Augusta native, Ruth was born Feb. 26, 1920, to Gertrude Amelia Smith and Alfred Clifton Eastman. She was the youngest of seven. She graduated from the first five-year nursing course at the University of Maine in Orono and Central Maine General in Lewiston, now Central Maine Medical Center, with bachelor of arts and registered nursing degrees; did graduate study at Boston University; and taught at New England Deaconess, and Central Maine General and Augusta General hospitals, now MaineGeneral Medical Center.In 1950, she married Richard Lee and continued her nursing career in central Maine until motherhood focused her full energy on the farm and family. In 1974, she and her husband retired from Merrilee Farm on Western Avenue, leaving the orchard, Ayrshire herd, market garden and home bakery, to move to Manchester. She enjoyed working at Longfellow's Greenhouses in Manchester for many years.Her hobbies included building stone walls, making oriental and hooked rugs, china painting, knitting mittens for the Home for Little Wanders and baking bread for the Bread of Life Kitchen. She was a member of Rose of Sharon Order of the Eastern Star, former Mother Advisor to Rainbow Girls, North Augusta Extension, Augusta China Club, South Parish Congregational Church, North Manchester Meeting House and the Maine Morgan Horse Club.She was predeceased by her husband, Richard Lee; brothers Deroyce, Alfred and Albert Eastman; and sisters Roxanna Dalton and Harriet Eastman.She was survived by her brother, George Eastman, recently deceased. She is survived by her daughter, Trudie Lee and her partner, Deborah Plengey; her sister-in-law, Charlotte Eastman; and many nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand, and great-great-grandnieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to MaineGeneral Health, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903; the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105; or a charity of choice.