Mary C. Collins
1919 – 2009
FARMINGTON — Mary Coolidge Collins, 90, of Dixfield, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Franklin Memorial Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Sept. 10, 1919, on Severy Hill in Dixfield, the daughter of Harry and Alma (Packard) Coolidge.
She married Vinton Merrill of Dixfield, with whom she had six children. He passed away on Aug. 31, 1958. She remarried to Chester Grover and they adopted a daughter, Jacki. He died on April 12, 1969.
On Dec. 19, 1969, in a surprise ceremony at her son, George’s home, she married Sherman Collins. They shared a wonderful life until his death on Jan. 11, 1984. She lived near her son, George until the time of her death.
She cooked for the Dixfield school system for several years and also worked at Diamond Interational in West Peru.
She had a passion for bowling and dancing. The delight of her life was the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, George Merrill and his wife, Yvonne, of Dixfield, Linda Coolidge and her husband, Phillip, of East Dixfield, Betty Crosco and her husband, Russell, of Kitzmiller, Md., Penny Ford of Wilton and Jacki Grover Walker of Witchita, Kan.; a brother, Richard Coolidge; sisters, Dorothy Dakin and Jean Brann of Wilton; sisters-in-law, Mildred Coolidge of East Dixfield and Doris Merrill of Pennsylvania; stepchildren, Guy Collins and his wife, Roberta, of East Wilton and Sadie Fitzmaurice and her husband, Francis, of King, N.C.; 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and 18 stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her children, Jacqueline and Wayne Merrill; grandchildren, Beverly Hanson and Missy Crosco; and siblings, Clinton, Chester, Lester, Kenneth, John, and Beatrice Hanson.