SOUTH PORTLAND — Marjorie E. (Marge) Schurman passed away on July 14, 2011.

Marge was born in Portland, the daughter of Harold L. and Elsie Peabbles Libby on Oct. 27, 1924.

She was educated in the South Portland Schools and graduated in 1941. She was also an Alumni of Eastern Nazarene College in Wollaston, Mass., where she studied Early Childhood Development. In her early twenties, she worked in the tabulating department in the old west shipyard. Her photo is in the large picture of shipyard workers located in the replica of a Liberty Ship at Bug Light Park. Her two young grandsons pointed to grandma without hesitation when shown the picture of her at a young age.

She met “Lu” Schurman in November of 1946, and after a very long courtship of three months they were married on March 8, 1947. They recently celebrated 64 years together.

She was an accomplished seamstress and made her own beautiful clothes plus her children’s clothing. She even made her two boys’ coats with matching caps.

After her family had grown, she began work at Fairchild Semi-Conductor.

For many years, she was employed at Lighthouse Day School at the Church of the Nazarene on Highland Avenue. She put on outstanding musicals with the little ones. Later, she was the school receptionist. She loved the children and the work. She felt honored to have the first President Bush’s grandchildren, Ellie and Sammy, as students. For 81 years, she was part of South Portland Church of the Nazarene, serving on church boards, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and leader of the Caravan Program. She was a great Christian lady who believed in the power of prayer.

She was awarded teacher of the year in day schools of southern Maine with a banquet held in her honor at DiMillo’s on the Water.

Everywhere she went, she would see parents and children who remembered her with fondness.

She was predeceased by a sister; a brother; her parents; and a grandson.

Surviving are her husband Lu; sons Paul of Moore, Okla. and David of South Portland; daughters Beth L. Schurman of Portland and Heather Grass of Sebago; a brother, Emerson Peabbles Libby of Vancouver, Wash.; five grandsons; a granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours were on Monday, July 18, 2011 at the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 19 at the South Portland Church of the Nazarene, 525 Highland Avenue, South Portland. Interment will be at a later date. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

Family flowers only. Marge instead would like donations in her memory to: Lighthouse School, 525 Highland Avenue, South Portland, ME 04106, or The Gosnell Memorial Hospice, 180 U.S. Rt. 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.