INDUSTRY – The children of Margaret Loret Chase Morrill announce her passing. She died peacefully at her home on Clearwater Lake on Monday, July 5, after a severe stroke. She was 81 years young and led an exemplary life of giving to others.
She was born Dec. 4, 1922, in Auburn, the daughter of Mary Alice Dresser and Eric Fletcher Chase. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Edward Little High School in Auburn and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Orono in 1944. She had the distinction of being the first woman to graduate from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University and merited the unusual honor of election as an honorary member of Tau Beta Pi.
Shortly after graduating, she married another University of Maine engineering graduate, Richard Morrill of Farmington. They settled in the Augusta area, where they both worked for the U.S. Department of Geological Survey, until she became a full-time “domestic engineer.” She and Richard raised 11 children of their own and contributed to the raising of many others.
While she considered her family her greatest accomplishment, she also made other great contributions to the community she lived in. In Augusta she was a member of South Parish Congregational Church UCC, where she sang in the choir and worked on church suppers. She was an active volunteer in Augusta, serving on the PTA, leading Girl Scout troops, playing cello for the Augusta Symphony and founding the Augusta Chapter of Literacy Volunteers.
In 1980, she and Richard relocated to their camp on Clearwater Lake in Industry. She enjoyed sharing this home with her children, grandchildren and other friends and family. She housed children from the Fresh Air Fund for years then she sponsored individuals from Africa seeking an education at the University of Maine at Farmington.
She continued to work for her community and help others in the Farmington area. She was an active member of Shorey Chapel in Industry, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school, was treasurer for Franklin and Somerset County Literacy Volunteers, played cello in the Farmington Orchestra, was an officer in the Clearwater Lake Association, monitored wells for the U.S.G.S., was a Seniors Plus volunteer driver, member of the Industry Historical Society, 82 High Street Board of Directors, Franklin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Franklin County Extension, Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry, United Church of Christ Conference Franklin Association and volunteered at Titcomb Mountain Ski Club.
On May 17, 2002, she was inducted into the Francis Crowe Society Hall of Fame. In her spare time, she enjoyed being a member of the Fitness Club in Farmington, where she loved to swim and play tennis. She was an avid knitter and also enjoyed playing cribbage, Scrabble and bridge with her many friends and relatives.
She is survived by Eric and Margaret Morrill of Wayne, Leigh and Sharon Morrill of Damariscotta Mills, David and Sue Morrill of Augusta, Martha Morrill and Bruce Morang of East Winthrop, Rebecca and Steve Jasch of Grinnell, Iowa, Sarah and Richard Barnum of Augusta, Timothy and Gloria Morrill of Richmond, Gladys and Steve Russell of Farmington, Jennifer Morrill of Wells, Ida and Andrew Flint of Redmond, Wash., and Charles and Wendy Morrill of Washington D.C.; 22 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her sister and husband, Mary and Towne Conover of Acton, Mass.; sisters-in-law, Janet Morrill and Phyllis Chase; brother-in-law, George Morrill and his wife, Roberta; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was predeceased by Richard Morrill, her husband of 53 years; her brother, David Chase; and an infant son, Nathaniel.
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