BAR HARBOR – Mary Anne Starbird, 75, died peacefully June 23, 2012, holding the hand of her husband of 56 years, at Mount Desert Island Hospital. She was born July 14, 1936, in Corinna, daughter of Edward Barry and Elsie Mary (Crowell) Holt Jr.
Mary Anne graduated from Corinna Union Academy where she was an excellent student and basketball player. She attended the University of Maine, Orono, for two years where she met her future husband, Edric P. Starbird. Upon his graduation, they married and moved to Boston where Mary Anne attended Boston University. They were transferred for Edric’s work to Springfield, Mass., where two of their children, Scott and Russell were born. They later moved to Houston, where their third son, Edric N. was born, and Mary Anne completed her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in art at the University of Houston. Represented by major galleries in Houston and Scottsdale, Ariz., her art was sold to banks, corporations and private collectors throughout the Southwest. She also won numerous art contests in the Southwest. She was a signature member of National Watercolor Society. Throughout her life, Mary Anne immersed herself in the world that inspired her art. She climbed the Continental Divide twice, summited Mount Katahdin on several occasions crossing the Knife Edge, and camped in Death Valley. She backpacked, canoed and hiked through rainforests, deep woods, and alpine tundra in search of the ideas for her great works of art. She was a strong, adventurous woman. Mary Anne returned to Maine in 1993 with Edric and built their home in Bar Harbor. She was active in Bar Harbor Congregational Church where she served on several boards/committees becoming chair of Out Reach, chair of the board of deacons, and an original member of Called to Care Ministry. She was a member of Bar Harbor Rotary Club.
Mary Anne is survived by her faithful husband of 56 years, Edric P. Starbird of Bar Harbor; three sons, Scott Starbird and wife, Valerie, of San Rafael, Calif., Russell Starbird of San Mateo, Calif., and Edric N. Starbird and partner, Stephanie Ohmacht, of Denver; sister, Judy Richards and husband, Ronald, of Corinna; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Gregory, Castine, Renata, Siena, Katrina and Weston; as well as several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Mary Anne’s life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Bar Harbor Congregational Church with the Rev. Dr. Sandra Reed officiating. Interment will be at Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor, with a celebration of Mary Anne’s life afterward. Those who desire may make contributions in Mary Anne’s memory to Bar Harbor Congregational Church, 29 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.