BATH – Marjorie M. Dunning, 89, of Neil’s Point Road, Harpswell, died Friday, May 6, after a short residence at Hill House in Bath.

Born in Bath on Jan. 8, 1916, she was the youngest of three children born to Frank and Lucy (Orr) Merryman.

She attended Hawthorne School and Brunswick High School. After she graduated from Castine Normal School, she taught until her marriage to Clement S. Dunning in Brunswick on Oct. 2, 1946. His work with the University of Maine County Extension Service took them to Houlton for 11 years, during which time she stayed home to be a full-time mom after the birth of their daughter.

She was active in the women’s extension groups, a local art group, and the Congregational Church during their years in Houlton. She even picked potatoes with her daughter during the annual fall school break on various farms in Aroostook County.

In 1957, they moved to North Yarmouth, where they resided for 13 years. During that time, Marjorie attended the University of Southern Maine nights and weekends to earn a B.S. degree in education, while at the same time teaching first grade at North Yarmouth Memorial School. She taught there until her retirement in 1975.

She was a very active supporter of her daughter’s 4-H activities, particularly helping with prepping and showing sheep at fairs all over Maine. She was a tireless promoter of higher education, particularly to the girls in her family. She was an avid reader, a for fun tennis player, an intense board and card game player, an active gardener, and a wicked croquet player who always denied bending the rules to fit her needs.

During retirement, she and Clem lived on and tended the Dunning family farm in Harpswell. They traveled extensively throughout the United States, visiting old friends and college classmates along their way. They faithfully attended agricultural fairs anywhere that the family Belgian and Percheron draft horses were being exhibited.

She is survived by a daughter, Jane Gray and her husband, Dwight “Pete” Tripp, of Harrison; a granddaughter, Sally Allen of Harpswell; grandsons, Joel Gray and wife, Kim, of Harrison, Daniel Gray and wife, Jody, of Bridgton; six great-grandchildren; and especially dear nephews, John Merryman and his wife, Sharon, of Brunswick, and Richard Merryman of Harpswell.

She was predeceased by her husband on Sept. 17, 2004; her brother, Arthur Merryman; her sister, Emma Hale; her parents; and a nephew, James Merryman.

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