BREWER and BANGOR – Mary (Spearman) Davis passed away March 12, 2013, at a Boston hospital, after a brief but very courageous battle with cardiac disease. She was born March 15, 1939, in Warwick, R.I., the daughter of Dr. Leonard and Blanche Spearman.
Mary graduated from St. Xavier’s Academy, Providence, R.I., and attended the University of Rhode Island, before moving to Maine in 1969. While bringing up four young children Mary attended the University of Maine part time and proudly received her bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1978. Mary served as a licensed social worker for Community Health and Counseling for several years. Mary was a gentle caring soul, who often saw beauty in people and things that were missed by others. She had a great love for animals especially all her pets throughout her life. She possessed a strong Catholic faith and attended Mass regularly. A beautiful, classy lady, Mary sought out the beauty in our world: poetry, literature, flowers, gardens, art, music and the theater. She was very interested in genealogy and spent significant time researching her ancestors. Mary possessed a strong sense of social and economic justice, often working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve upon the lives of those who were discriminated against. Countless Bangor area children, families and individuals benefited from Mary’s volunteer work with hospice programs, Literacy Volunteers, United Cerebral Palsy, Camp CaPella and CancerCare programs. Mary was also very generous and financially contributed to many agencies throughout the year. Mary sought out opportunities to learn throughout her life. She was an active participant in and loved Penobscot County Senior College. She eagerly anticipated the start of the program each semester and enthusiastically shared her learning with others. Mary was a member of several political and social activist groups, including Southern Poverty Law Center, Amnesty International, People for the American Way and Habitat for Humanity. A lifelong Democrat, Mary worked for the Democratic Party since she was a teenager. Mary loved “going to lunch” and she will be fondly missed by her regular lunch companions, Maizey, Marilee, Joan, Ruth, Betty, Irene and Lola.
Mary’s greatest pride, however, lie in her unconditional loving devotion to her husband, Dr. William E. Davis of Brewer; and to her four children, Beth Davis-Spencer and her husband, Carl, of Brewer, Kate “Kathy” Davis, Paul Davis of Brewer and Dr. Sheila Davis of Roslindale, Mass. Mary loved being a parent and was a wonderful mom. The joys of Grammy’s life were her two grandchildren, Eva O’Brien of Roslindale, Mass., and Maizey Spencer of Brewer. Mary spent a few years traveling to Brookline, Mass., to help take care of Eva and so enjoyed her time with her. Recently, some of Grammy’s favorite times have been spent playing school with and sharing a love of birds with Maizey. Mary is also survived by her sister, Jane Moriarty and her husband, Mike, of Warwick, R.I.; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; and a special cousin and friend, June Berube.
Relatives and friends are invited to call 4-6 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, 425 South Main St., Brewer. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the services. Those wishing to remember Mary in a special way may contribute in her memory to one of her favorite charities or groups: Partners in Health, 888 Commonwealth Ave., 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02215; Community Care, P.O. Box 936, Bangor, ME 04401; Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401; National Public Radio, 635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 or a charity of your choice. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
Mary (Spearman) Davis
