Obituary for Marilyn M. Ward (McLaughlin)
MEDWAY-Marilyn “Marnie” (McLaughlin) Ward, 81, of Medway, died unexpectedly on Monday, September 23, 2019 at home. Marnie was born in a log cabin that her father built on what is now an island in the Penobscot River in Medway on February 12, 1938, the daughter of Lawrence and Mazie (McLeod) McLaughlin. Marnie was born the third of seven children, into a woodsman’s family. They moved and lived in several remote locations until eventually settling at a new home that Lawrence built near Salmon Stream.
Marnie was a proud graduate of Medway High School, Class of 1955. After graduating, she attended Beal School of Business in downtown Bangor and for several years thereafter, worked as a bookkeeper at Mack Baking Company in Brewer. It was during this time that she met Karleton S. Ward, and they were married on August 25, 1962, at the Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor.
On December 18, 1963, they welcomed their first child, Karl, Jr. and in 1965, the family moved to Shelton, CT, to be near her sister, Lorna, and her husband, Mike Severance. Marnie was employed at the Schick Razor Factory, and Karl, Sr. continued his auto body repair work at Howespitality Auto Body on the Boston Post Road in Milford. On September 1, 1967, the family grew again with the birth of their daughter, Kelly.
In 1970, Karl, Sr. and Marnie brought their family back to Marnie’s hometown of Medway, where they cleared the land for and built Ward’s Auto Body Shop on the Grindstone Road - finally realizing their dream of owning their own business. For the next twenty years, they worked as a team with Marnie “running the books” and Karl, Sr. working on the cars. During this time, the business grew, adding windshield replacement and wrecker towing and operated successfully until Karl, Sr.’s death in 1990.
In the late 1970s, Marnie also developed an interest in antiques, eventually opening her own business, Marnie’s Barn. For nearly thirty years thereafter, Marnie could be found at yard sales and auctions across Eastern and Central Maine, and the Barn was well-known for its selection of fine antiques and affordable used furniture.
In 1980, Marnie developed breast cancer, and after beating it, she used that experience to counsel other women in the Katahdin Region facing the same diagnosis. Through two later battles with cancer and advanced-stage COPD, as with every challenge in her life, Marnie overcame obstacles with optimism and determination. She was one tough lady.
Marnie loved her family dearly, and she was proud of her children and grandchildren and their personal and professional accomplishments. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and crushing her Scrabble opponents. She especially adored her precious “puppy,” Abby. They were truly inseparable.
Marnie was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Mazie McLaughlin; her husband, Karleton Ward, Sr.; brother Carroll McLaughlin; sister Janice (McLaughlin) Stuart; brother Lawrence “Larry” McLaughlin, Jr.; and her companion Ralph Saucier.
Marnie is survived by her son, Karl Ward, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Kathy Ward, of Dedham, and their children, Katie, Ryan and Braeden; daughter, Kelly (Ward) Coon and her husband, Corey, of Virginia Beach, VA; step-daughter, Barbara Sullivan of Houlton and her children, Rachael Upton and Jessica Bassi; step-son, Frederick Ward and his wife, Martha, of Winterport and their children, Keith and Kyle; sister, Lorna (McLaughlin) Severance, and her husband, Mike of Medway; brother, Galen McLaughlin of Medway; sister Glenda (McLaughlin) Hale, and her husband, Danny, of Medway; sister-in-law, Betty (Ward) Lang and her husband, David, of Carlisle, MA; sister-in-law, Connie (Ward) Cox and her husband, Cliff of Brunson, SC; sister-in-law, Sally Ward of Orrington; as well as many wonderful friends. The family also wishes to thank Linda Madore of Medway for her dedicated love and care of Marnie during her later years.
Friends and relatives may call 4-7 PM on Friday, September 27, 2019, at Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack Street in Millinocket, ME. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 2 Orchard Street, East Millinocket, ME, with Reverend Reginall Adams officiating, followed by graveside services at Grindstone Cemetery, Medway. A reception/luncheon will follow at Calvary Temple Assembly of God.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name, Marilyn Ward, to the Katahdin Area Support Group, P.O.Box 374, Millinocket, ME 04462.
Marnie was a proud graduate of Medway High School, Class of 1955. After graduating, she attended Beal School of Business in downtown Bangor and for several years thereafter, worked as a bookkeeper at Mack Baking Company in Brewer. It was during this time that she met Karleton S. Ward, and they were married on August 25, 1962, at the Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor.
On December 18, 1963, they welcomed their first child, Karl, Jr. and in 1965, the family moved to Shelton, CT, to be near her sister, Lorna, and her husband, Mike Severance. Marnie was employed at the Schick Razor Factory, and Karl, Sr. continued his auto body repair work at Howespitality Auto Body on the Boston Post Road in Milford. On September 1, 1967, the family grew again with the birth of their daughter, Kelly.
In 1970, Karl, Sr. and Marnie brought their family back to Marnie’s hometown of Medway, where they cleared the land for and built Ward’s Auto Body Shop on the Grindstone Road - finally realizing their dream of owning their own business. For the next twenty years, they worked as a team with Marnie “running the books” and Karl, Sr. working on the cars. During this time, the business grew, adding windshield replacement and wrecker towing and operated successfully until Karl, Sr.’s death in 1990.
In the late 1970s, Marnie also developed an interest in antiques, eventually opening her own business, Marnie’s Barn. For nearly thirty years thereafter, Marnie could be found at yard sales and auctions across Eastern and Central Maine, and the Barn was well-known for its selection of fine antiques and affordable used furniture.
In 1980, Marnie developed breast cancer, and after beating it, she used that experience to counsel other women in the Katahdin Region facing the same diagnosis. Through two later battles with cancer and advanced-stage COPD, as with every challenge in her life, Marnie overcame obstacles with optimism and determination. She was one tough lady.
Marnie loved her family dearly, and she was proud of her children and grandchildren and their personal and professional accomplishments. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and crushing her Scrabble opponents. She especially adored her precious “puppy,” Abby. They were truly inseparable.
Marnie was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Mazie McLaughlin; her husband, Karleton Ward, Sr.; brother Carroll McLaughlin; sister Janice (McLaughlin) Stuart; brother Lawrence “Larry” McLaughlin, Jr.; and her companion Ralph Saucier.
Marnie is survived by her son, Karl Ward, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Kathy Ward, of Dedham, and their children, Katie, Ryan and Braeden; daughter, Kelly (Ward) Coon and her husband, Corey, of Virginia Beach, VA; step-daughter, Barbara Sullivan of Houlton and her children, Rachael Upton and Jessica Bassi; step-son, Frederick Ward and his wife, Martha, of Winterport and their children, Keith and Kyle; sister, Lorna (McLaughlin) Severance, and her husband, Mike of Medway; brother, Galen McLaughlin of Medway; sister Glenda (McLaughlin) Hale, and her husband, Danny, of Medway; sister-in-law, Betty (Ward) Lang and her husband, David, of Carlisle, MA; sister-in-law, Connie (Ward) Cox and her husband, Cliff of Brunson, SC; sister-in-law, Sally Ward of Orrington; as well as many wonderful friends. The family also wishes to thank Linda Madore of Medway for her dedicated love and care of Marnie during her later years.
Friends and relatives may call 4-7 PM on Friday, September 27, 2019, at Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack Street in Millinocket, ME. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 2 Orchard Street, East Millinocket, ME, with Reverend Reginall Adams officiating, followed by graveside services at Grindstone Cemetery, Medway. A reception/luncheon will follow at Calvary Temple Assembly of God.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name, Marilyn Ward, to the Katahdin Area Support Group, P.O.Box 374, Millinocket, ME 04462.