1921 – 2004

LEWISTON – Mary Elizabeth Allen, 82, died Tuesday, March 16, at Central Maine Medical Center, after a brief illness.

Born May 23, 1921, in Lewiston, the daughter of Charles Edward and Eleanor True Allen, she attended Auburn schools, graduating from Edward Little High School in 1939.

After graduating from Mount Holyoke College in 1943, she enlisted in the Waves, and was stationed in Washington, D.C., as a cryptographer.

She was for many years a Girl Scout executive, first in Gardiner, Mass., and later with the Kennebec Council in Maine, also serving as director of the Council’s Camp Wayaka from 1951 to 1968.

For more than 20 years she made her home in Raymond, on Little Sebago Lake, with Dr. Anita Violette. She assisted in Dr. Violette’s dental practice and the management of her rental properties.

It was at this time that she began her great interest in Altrusa International, a women’s service organization, an interest which continued for the rest of her life. “M.E.,” as she was known, made many Altrusan friends as she attended meetings and conventions around this country and abroad.

She returned to Auburn to live after Dr. Violette’s death, and became active as a volunteer with the United Way of Androscoggin County and other community agencies. She was a skillful knitter and fashioned literally hundreds of sweaters, caps, mittens and afghans for family, friends, and charitable causes.

She continued to travel frequently in the U.S. and abroad, and was an enthusiastic member of the 50+ ‘R US travel club, Windham. She was also a member of the Lewiston United Baptist Church, Girl Scouting’s Order of the Silver Trefoil, Altrusa International of the Pejepscot Area, and First Auburn Senior Citizens.

She is survived by two sisters, Margaret A. Bertocci, Arrowsic, and Martha A. Irvine, Portland; a brother, David C. Allen, W. Hartford, Conn.; and nine nieces and nephews.


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