MARY LOUISE MARKS SMITH

PORTLAND – Mary Louise Marks Smith, 73, a resident of Cumberland Foreside and Township 6, Range 7, died on July 22, 2004, at Maine Medical Center, with her family by her side. Mary Lou was born March 16, 1931, in Houlton, a daughter of Charles Frederick Marks and Bessie Russell Marks. She graduated from Gardiner High School in 1948, Westbrook Junior College with an associate’s degree in 1950, and Gorham State Teachers College, with a bachelor’s of science degree in education in 1952. Mary Lou wed Granville Isaac Smith on June 30, 1951. In their first years of marriage, they lived in the Augusta-Gardiner area, where she taught school in the Randolph school system. She was active in the Gardiner chapter of the American Red Cross and the Gardiner Players dramatic group. They moved to Cumberland Foreside in 1959, when her husband became a Portland Harbor pilot. She became an active member of the Cumberland Garden Club, and as a result, became chairperson of the committee to force the Town of Cumberland to close its open, burning landfill in 1970, which adjoined the Cumberland Elementary School; the committee was successful. As a result, the National Council of State Garden Clubs and Sears awarded the Cumberland Garden Club a third prize of $1,500 in its effort to clean up the environment. Her next quest was to campaign to become a selectman in the Town of Cumberland. She won the election and became the first, and only, woman to become a selectman in the history of the town, and went on to become the first woman to serve as a councilman. She was chairman of the Cumberland town council in 1974. Mary Lou held positions of conservation committee chairman, tree warden, and finance chairman. In addition, she was an active volunteer in the town of Cumberland. She served on the Greater Portland council of government for many years. In 1972, the University of Southern Maine presented her with the Gorham Alumni Award for loyal devotion to community service. She found time to be a Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader, and was active in the PTA in Cumberland. She served on the alumni board of Westbrook Junior College. Former Governor Joseph Brennan, during his administration, appointed Mary Lou to the Maine Criminal Justice board of trustees, where she served for eight years at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Again, she was the first woman to serve as chairman, a position she proudly held for two years. Her greatest love was gardening. She was president of the Cumberland Garden Club four times, life-member of Longfellow Garden Club, Saco district director twice, served as president of the Garden Club Federation of Maine in 1981-1983, and was elected New England regional director for 1985-1987. She served on the Garden Club Federation of Maine board of directors until her death and was a life member. In 1981, she approached Governor Brennan with the idea that the Garden Club decorate the Blaine House for the Christmas holidays. She continued this tradition for many years with Cumberland and Waterville community garden clubs members. She served on the board of National Council of State Garden Clubs for more than 25 years. Among her chairmanships were calendar committee; flower show schools committee for nine years; bylaws chairman; standing rules chairman; design study units chairman; and a trustee for the National Garden Club permanent home in St. Louis. Mary Lou was a nationally accredited master judge and National Flower Show schools instructor in design and flower show procedure. She taught and lectured throughout the country. In 1976, she was chosen to decorate the second high altar at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., at a National Council of State Garden Club celebration. One of her outstanding accomplishments was when she was chosen to represent the New England region, along with 12 other judges from around the country, to decorate the White House during former President Clinton’s administration. During a private photo opportunity with the Clintons, she turned to the president and politely identified herself as a staunch republican, as only Mary Lou could! In 2001, she was presented with the Golden Circle Award from National Council for serving more than 25 years on the national board. This was the first time a Maine member had been so honored. She was a national life member of National Council. She also deeply enjoyed with her family, hunting, fishing, and the outdoors at their retreat, Seboeis Farm, in T6R7. She was a registered Maine guide. She was a devoted mother and grandmother spending as much time as possible with them all. She would do anything for her beloved husband, children and grandchildren. She is survived and will be greatly missed by her husband of 53 years, Captain Granville Isaac Smith; along with their four children, Gary Ford Smith and his wife, Debra, of South Portland, with children, Shannon Elizabeth, Kahsi Ann, Jason James and Ian Isaac; Mark Russell Smith and his wife, Joan, of North Yarmouth, their children, Gregory Lawrence and Meaghan Catherine; Shelly Smith Shuka and her husband, John, of Hamilton, Mass., their children, Christopher Andrew, Lindsey Katherine, and Kelsey Lauren; and Holly Dineen Smith and her husband, Jason, of Sanibel Island, Fla., their children, Zane Joshua and Peyton Clay; a sister, Lynn Rae French of Unity, and her son, Michael; and a brother, Jon Russell Marks of Litchfield. She was predeceased by a brother, Charles Frederick Marks Jr., in 2002. A gathering of family and friends will be held 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004, in her garden at 9 Wildwood Boulevard, Cumberland Foreside. Words of remembrance and a celebration of her life will commence at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Garden Club Federation of Maine (G.C.F.M.), Mary Louise Marks Smith Scholarship Fund, care of Kathy Curry, Treas., 350 Preble St., South Portland, ME 04106, or University of Southern Maine, Class of 1952 Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104-9300, Mary Louise Marks Smith.