Mary A. Torrey

LEWISTON – Mary Ann Torrey, 100, died May 3, 2024. The daughter of Michael and Sophia Dzurilla, she was born Jan. 7, 1924, in Slovakia. Mary immigrated to the United States when she was 6-years old. Her family settled in Uniontown, Pa. Mary loved school, especially history. During the depression Mary had to leave school to help support the family by working in a local restaurant.

She later left Uniontown and moved to New Jersey where she worked for Owens-Illinois Glass Co. during World War ll. It was here that she met her future husband Gale Torrey, who was in school training to be a crew chief on the P51 Mustang fighter plane while in the Army Air Corps. Gale was sent to England where they continued to correspond by letters during World War ll. They only had one date before Gale left for England, but apparently it was enough. Gale was persistent and wrote many letters and Mary waited for him. They were married on April 22, 1946 and moved to Poland, Maine where Gale was raised. It was here that Mary and Gale raised three children.

Mary loved to cook and enjoyed working in the garden picking fruits and vegetables. She was a member of the Minot Corner Methodist Church and Excelsior Grange where she enjoyed acting roles in plays that the grange produced. She was also a founding member of the Busy Bees. A women’s social group that got together to create many different crafts. Mary lived in the same house for 75 years. Mary was a very caring person and often said there are givers and there are takers in this world. It’s important to be a giver.

In October 1959 Mary and Gale purchased a set of sporting camps known as Little Lyford Pond Camps. Located between Kokadjo and Gulf Hagas on the West Branch of the Pleasant River. Gale was an avid outdoorsman and was longing for a career change. Gale was very cautious and hesitant about taking a city girl into the woods of Maine where the only access at the time was a 6-mile road traveled only by a 4-wheel drive Jeep. Mary would say, “How do you know if I will like it unless we try”? If it were not for Mary’s encouragement they would have never been in the sporting camp business. It was a family affair and Mary applied her cooking skills as the camp cook. Mary and Gale worked side by side tirelessly and the children had their assigned jobs as well. She ended up loving Little Lyford and they owned the camps for 15 years. The longest of any previous owners. The camps are still in operation and are now owned by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Mary is survived by son, David Torrey and his wife Ann, Brewer; daughter, Sally Leclair and her husband Arthur, Fraser, Colo.; son, Erland Torrey, and his partner, Dodi Knights, Poland, Maine; grandchildren, Lisa Leclair Waldorf, and her husband Steve, Fraser, CO; Jeff Leclair, and his wife, Helena, Rockport; Jason Torrey, and his wife Brianne, Las Vegas; Joel Torrey, and his wife Jessica, New Portland; Ian Torrey, Denver; Breanne Torrey-Jones and her husband Nathan, Jackson, N.H.; great-grandchildren, Henry Waldorf, Fraser, Colo.; Janie Waldorf, Fraser, Colo.; Jordy Leclair, Rockport; sister Francis Prah, Uniontown, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her husband Gale Torrey.

Special thanks go to Cindy Charloff and Maxine Downie for the care they provided to Mary.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 11 a.m., at Chandler Funeral Home, 26 W. Dwinal St., Mechanic Falls with interment to follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Poland. Family and friends may attend a time of visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., prior to the service.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers donations to Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice,

15 Strawberry Avenue

Lewiston, ME 04240