MEDWAY – Margaret “Irene” Stanley passed away peacefully Feb. 25, 2011, at Orono Commons, Orono. She was born Sept. 18, 1927, in Baltimore, the daughter of Allen Harvey Sorenson and Margaret (Haynie) Simmons.
After graduating from South Baltimore High School, she went on to work for Liberty Mutual, Baltimore. Later she worked as a civilian worker at Fort Meade Army Base in Maryland, where she met her late husband. They were married June 25, 1954, in Baltimore. They moved to Medway and stayed at the Stanley farm on Turnpike Road, Medway, until their current home was built in 1955-1956. She raised her children and worked throughout the years as a mail carrier in Medway and as a secretary for the town of Medway for a short time. She spent countless hours preparing and coordinating activities for the town of Medway’s Centennial Celebration in 1976. Prior to her stroke in 1988, she spent many years as a seamstress, making wedding and bridal party gowns, dance competition outfits and general sewing for many in the area. She spent many summers at their camp on Schoodic Lake, Brownville, going when the snow left and leaving when the snow returned. She enjoyed having her grandchildren there, teaching them to swim and just spending time with them. While there she read hundreds of books, and knitted and crocheted special baby items for expecting family members. She bowled on several leagues at the Millinocket bowling alley and achieved many trophies and awards for her accomplishments. She loved her family and was very proud of each and every one.
She is survived by her children, Eugene “Bud” Stanley Jr. and his wife, Sandra, and Barbara Tompkins and her husband, Mike, of Medway, and their children, Brydon Stanley and wife, Angela, of South Portland, Amanda Stanley of Gorham, and Benjamin Gagnon and his companion, Lisa Chaloux, of Medway and his three children, Camden, Blake and Averie Marie of Enfield; stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren, Mike, Amy and Makala Jipson, Chad, Rose, CJ, Riley and Carrie Hersom of Prentiss, Kathy Tompkins and fiance, David Wills, of Medway, Randy, Shari, Zachary and Sara Chaloux of Hodgdon, Wayne Allen of Charleston, Kristen, Cheyanne and Kelsey Allen of Houlton, Michelle Jacobs and Gib Chaloux of East Millinocket, Amanda and Nick Crane of Hodgdon, Mickey and Rachel, Dakota, Miriah, Lukas, Merle and Nehemiah Tompkins of Lincoln, Holly, Bryant, Logan and Landon Markie of Smyrna, Chad, Jen, Macie, Amber and Zachary Pelkey of Ashland, Joe, Carol, Joe and Lucas Qualey of Dexter. She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene “Gene” Stanley Sr.; her parents; her stepfather, James Simmons; and a stepsister, Iris.
Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Living Hope Church of the Nazarene, 1 Palm St., East Millinocket, with the Rev. David Shaw officiating. Spring interment will be at Grindstone Road Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to American Lung Association of Maine, 122 State St., Augusta, ME 04330. Those who wish may sign an online register and leave written condolences at
www.clayfuneralhome.com.