Mary B. Stanley

CASCO — Mary Bridget Stanley, 78, of Casco, died peacefully on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. She was born March 27, 1934 in Somerville, Mass., the daughter of Mark and Ida Foley Ledwell. She was a graduate of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cambridge, Mass. in 1952.

She worked at Harvard Trust Co. in Cambridge, as a bookkeeper for Audette Contraction, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine as payroll coordinator. She was active with the Legion of Mary, Young Wives Club of YMCA, and volunteered at Holy Ghost Hospital, reading to the blind.

After retiring, Mary went back to school to study Art. She had a very special touch as a watercolorist, competing in countless shows and winning many awards. She also treasured her time with family, lived to dance, was an accomplished seamstress, truly enjoyed meeting people, saw great adventure in her many travels, and loved working the soil to cultivate her prized perennials. Mary was everyone’s “Nana,” and loved being with friends, going out to dinner, laughing, joking, and living life to its fullest extent.

In her later years, she joined the Hep-Steppers dancing group of Casco and greatly valued those close friendships. She also swam three times weekly with friends, and donated both her time and her paintings to a number of charities.

She is predeceased by brothers Mark Ledwell of Casco, and James Ledwell of Cambridge, Mass.; and sisters Sarah Whitanis of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Rose and Lillian Ledwell of Cambridge, Mass. Mary is survived by her sister Esther McIsaac of Tewksbury, Mass.

Mary married David Murphy of Cambridge, Mass. in 1955. They had five children, David Murphy of Naples, Cheryl Lombard of Cape Elizabeth, Wayne Murphy of Andover, N.H., Rhonda Lamb of Windham, and Mary-Rita Reinhard of Naples. She had four granddaughters, Michelle Thompson of Windham, Laura Murphy of Somerville, Mass., Danielle Cochrane of Windham, and Anna Lombard McGeachey of Cape Elizabeth; six grandsons, Jason Murphy of Sebago, Shawn Warren of Orlando, Fla., Christopher and Cody Reinhard of Naples, Will Lombard of Atlanta, Ga., and Jack Lombard of Cape Elizabeth; and four great-grandchildren.

Mary remarried on July 4th, 1974 to Francis (Brad) Stanley, who was the love of her life. She had seven stepchildren, Brad Stanley of Tucson, Ariz., William Stanley of Concord, Va., Vicki Torrence of Spout Spring, Va.; also Jackie Harmon, Terry Murphy, Lisa Smith, and Patricia Stanbaugh. There were also many Stanley grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5th at 11 a.m. at Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Rd., Windham, Maine. In lieu of flowers, and should you desire, memorial donations may be made to the Pine Tree Society located in Bath, Maine, www.pinetreesociety.org