PALMYRA – Mary Eleanor Richardson passed away peacefully while sleeping in her Palmyra home Sunday evening after a weekend of fun and visiting with family. She was known as an avid reader and gardener and a woman who took pride and joy in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who affectionately called her Nanny. As a girl, Mary enjoyed school and was the salutatorian of the 1951 graduating Class of Lawrence High School, Fairfield, the first of three generations of salutatorians. She attended Farm-ington State Teachers’ College for one year before marrying Thomas Edward Richardson, her highschool sweetheart, in June of 1952. They moved to Rhode Island while Thomas served in the U.S. Navy, returning to Maine in 1956 and to Pittsfield in 1962. In 1996, they settled in Palmyra across the road from their youngest daughter. Mary worked as a substitute teacher for a short time when she first arrived in Pittsfield, and owned and operated Tom’s Drive-In for 20 years. After the business was sold she enjoyed summering on lake camps in Unity and St. Albans with her family which remained close by. Tom and Mary celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in June. They took pride in growing a prolific garden, which they shared with friends and family. Mary was predeceased by Helen and Aubert Richards of Benton. She is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Richard-son and their four children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They are, their eldest daughter, Betsy Mathews and her husband, Benjamin Jr., of Pittsfield; granddaughter, Erin Cote and husband, Shane, of Farmington; granddaughter, Anne Shank and husband, Mike, of Ocala, Fla.; their second daughter, Linda Page and her husband, Leland Jr., of Palmyra; grandson, Eric Page and his wife, Christy; and great-grandson, Collin of New-port; grandson, Adam Page and his wife, Catherine; great-granddaughters, Loralye and Carlee of Vacaville, Calif.; granddaughter, Katharine Page of Santa Barbara, Calif.; granddaughter, Mary Lange and husband, Stefan, of Pittsfield; their eldest son, Thomas Richardson Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of Pittsfield; and grandson, Trevor of Augusta; and their youngest son, Trent Richardson and his wife, Judith; and grandchildren, Tyler, Troy and Jessica of Burnham. The family welcomes friends to pay their respects for Mary Richardson, who passed away Aug. 19, 2007, at visiting hours 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, 191 Hartland Ave., Pittsfield, and at a graveside service 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at St. Francis Cemetery, Waterville.
MARY ELEANOR RICHARDSON
