WALDOBORO – Geraldine Laberee Smith Marks, wife of the late Maine State Police Maj. J. Edward Marks, died July 4, 2006, at Fieldcrest Manor. A proud Daughter of the American Revolution, it seemed fitting that Mrs. Marks passed away on the 4th of July. She was born Feb. 9, 1917, in Lyons Falls, N.Y., the oldest child of Gladys Laberee Smith and Sherman Devere Smith. Geraldine graduated from Utica Free Academy in Utica, N.Y. in 1936. Mrs. Marks spent her childhood summers in Maine at her grandparents’ farm in East Pittston, where she became an accomplished equestrian and swimmer. It was there that she met her future husband, State Police Sgt. “Eddie” Marks who patrolled on horseback. After high school, Geraldine was accepted into nursing school in New York State, but instead followed her heart to Maine. She and Sergeant Marks were married July 26, 1937, and with the advent of World War II and the impending nurses’ shortage, Mrs. Marks volunteered at the Knox County General Hospital in Rockland, becoming a certified nurses’ aide. Her medical sense was always keen, and when at age 12, her two-year-old brother ingested iodine, Geraldine quickly and successfully forced egg whites down his throat. A devoted state police wife, Mrs. Marks understood the many challenges that police faced. She was patient, loyal and fiercely independent, able to artfully contend with the work environment associated with police work. And while she was passionate in supporting the police, Geraldine was equally passionate in her lifelong stand against the death penalty. This view was shaped as a child when she listened to the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, which sentenced the two immigrants to death. Mrs. Marks devoted much of her time to volunteering, organizing the D.A.R. Good Citizenship Award for many years, as well as serving as state regent. But her greatest joy was leading the same group of Girl Scouts from Brownies to Senior Scouts, taking them on trips and to events, including the New York World’s Fair. Many former scouts remembered Mrs. Marks fondly in notes and visits, and she often recalled her scouting years as the best ones of her life. A docent at Montpelier, the Thomaston home of Revolutionary War Gen. Henry Knox, Mrs. Marks helped organize hostesses and hosts for the annual Knox birthday celebration. Period costumes and speakers were part of the event, and Geraldine particularly enjoyed showing Gen. William Westmoreland through the museum on one such occasion. Mrs. Marks’ recorded genealogy spans more than 1000 years, but she was especially proud of being descended from Revolutionary War soldiers on both sides of her family, Maj. John Ives of Connecticut and Capt. Peter Laberee of Massachusetts. One of her greatest pleasures was returning to the region of her childhood where her forebears were early settlers. She shared that memorable trip with her beloved daughter and granddaughter, Karen and Larissa Lemke. Geraldine was predeceased by her husband, sisters, June Staples Dunton and Audrey Smith Pindar; and brother, Sherman King Smith. Geraldine is survived by her daughter, Karen Marks Lemke and son-in-law, William, of Lisbon Falls; a son, Jack Jay Marks and his wife, Lorraine, of Scottsville, Ky.; two granddaughters, Larissa Maria Lemke of Lisbon Falls and Debbie Jo-Ann Marks of Avon, Conn.; two grandsons, Richard Marks of Louisiana and John Edward Marks Jr. of Kentucky; great-grandchildren, Collin William Lemke of Maine, Hunter and Paige Haywood of Connecticut and Jessica Marks of Kentucky; a brother, Capt. Granville I. Smith of Cumberland Foreside; sister-in-law, Eleanor W. Smith of Waldoboro; and many nieces and nephews. A milestone for Mrs. Marks occurred in April with the birth of a great-great-grandson, marking five living generations. Visitations will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 7, at Hall & Bibber Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Thomaston. A celebration of Mrs. Marks’ life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the Village Cemetery, Thomaston. In Geraldine’s memory contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106. Arrangements are entrusted to Hall & Bibber Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Thomaston.