FORT FAIRFIELD – Mary P. Burns, 96, wife of the late John S. “Jack” Burns, passed away Saturday evening, March 17, 2012, at a Mars Hill nursing facility, after an extended period of declining health. She was born March 25, 1915, in Tobique Narrows, New Brunswick, the daughter of James and Waitie (Wilson) Wallace.
She attended Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, area schools and was married to John S. “Jack” Burns, Sept. 7, 1937. She had been employed for many years at the former Fort Fairfield A&P Processing plant until her retirement in 1983.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Jack, July 11, 1993; one daughter, Dawn E. Schultz; one grandson, Nathan C. Burns; one daughter-in-law, Mary Jane G. Burns; two sons-in-law, William Gaffga and David Tyler; eight brothers, Archie, Pat, Howard, Richard, John, William, Louis and Roy Wallace; and three sisters, Bessie Merrithew, Nellie King and Elizabeth DeMerchant. She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Harry R. and Pamela Burns of Littleton, Colo., John W.R. and Tish Burns of Milford, Conn., Robert A. Burns of Fort Fairfield and Preston F. Burns of Shalomar, Fla.; five daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn C. and John Giberson, Loretta M. and Clifford L. Boaz, all of Fort Fairfield, Margaret R. Gaffga of Cutchogue, N.Y., Catherine G. and Thomas Altmann of Aransas Pass, Texas, and Barbara G.Tyler of Shalomar, Fla.; one son-in-law, Wilfred Schultz of China, Maine; one sister-in-law, Marie Wallace of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick; 28 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
In keeping with Mary’s wishes, a graveside service will be conducted later in the spring at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in memory of Mrs. Burns to Ronald McDonald House of Maine, Inc., 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401 or Mars Hill Nursing Home Activities Program, 11 Highland Ave., Mars Hill, ME 04758. Arrangements have been entrusted to Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield.