1920 – 2015

Maisie, as she has been called since childhood, was born in Lewiston on Aug. 19, 1920. Maisie shared her home on College Street with mother, Maryann (Doyle) Kingston and father, Samuel Kingston. Also present in Maisie’s life were three older brothers, Sam, Henry and Paul (all have predeceased Maisie).

Being of old Irish stock, Maisie possessed a drive to succeed on her own. This became evident when she graduated from Lewiston High School at the age of 15 and returned for a post studies program the following year. As a result of her academic achievements, Maisie became one of the few female applicants to be accepted into Bates College in Lewiston.

While a mathematics major at Bates, Maisie proved herself worthy of the highest honors awarded by Bates College. Upon graduation, Maisie took up teaching in Lewiston High School. After one year of teaching, Maisie heard the call of big business and big cities. It should be noted here, however, that Maisie never lost her belief that early education was the key to success for everyone. She constantly supported that belief.

Maisie landed a job with John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston, took up residence in Boston and ultimately shared a townhouse in Brookline Village. Interestingly, one of Maisie’s roommates in Brookline Village was her childhood friend, Mary Curran. Later, the “girls” were joined by Beth Schroder. The next 50 years proved most successful for this trio of single ladies touring the world and holding very prominent positions in the business world.

During her career, Maisie applied to the Massachusetts Insurance Commission and was readily hired. Spending the rest of her employment years with the commission, Maisie achieved the title of assistant commissioner and was a founding mother of the now-famous GIC Group Health Insurance Plan. By the way, Maisie was also a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Somehow, Maisie had spare time and used it to enjoy golf, painting, piano lessons, sewing, kickball and ice-skating. Her greatest love of all, however, was reading.

Surviving her are niece, Mary Ann Millett; and her husband, retired police Officer David Millett of Marblehead, Mass.; two great-nieces, Ann Marie Stearns and her husband, Cory, of Bethel, Vt., and Amy Watzke and husband, Andy, of Beverly, Mass.; and a large extended family.

Maisie was predeceased by three brothers, Henry Kingston, Samuel Kingston and Paul Kingston.

For an online guest book or additional information, please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.

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