YARMOUTH — Marilyn Shirley Ireland Steeves, formerly of Highland Ave., Lisbon Falls, and for many years a summer resident of South Harpswell, and most recently of Bay Square at Yarmouth, where she died on June 6.

She was born on Feb. 18, 1920 in Presque Isle, the first of five children born to Darrell Faye and Birdie Elizabeth (Mullen) Ireland. She attended public schools in Millinocket, and in 1938 graduated from Stearns High School as salutatorian in a class of 77 seniors. In 1942 she graduated from Colby College as vice president of her class and as a dean’s list student for four years with a major in political science. During her senior year she did her practice teaching at Coburn Classical Institute in Waterville. From 1942 to 1944 she taught political science, public speaking, debate and girls chorus at Stearns High School.

On June 17, 1944 she married Addison Eliot Steeves, a Colby classmate and divinity student at Meadville Theological School at the University of Chicago. From 1944 to 1945 she taught at the Harvard School for Girls in Chicago. From 1945 to 1949 she taught and studied for her master’s degree at Stockton Junior College and College of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., where her husband served as minister of the First Unitarian Church. From 1964 to 1968 she taught at the Dexter School in Dedham, Mass., and from 1968 to 1980 in the secondary schools of Stoneham, Mass.

At the time of the merger of the Unitarian and Universalist Women’s Organizations, Marilyn was commissioned to write their commorative hymnm, “Heirs of One Faith Are We.”

For many years she was a member of the Exterior Committee of the American Unitarian Association and in the General Alliance of Unitarian with other liberal Christian women, active in its leadership training conferences and in the Sunday School Union of Greater Boston. She served two terms as president of the Family Service Association of Dedham, Mass., and for many years on the Board of Directors of the Family Service Association of Greater Boston.

In the California years she was much in demand as a book reviewer. She was an accomplished pianist, alto soloist and prolific reader all her life, pursuing the study and collection of antique and modern pewter. She was an enthusiastic Elderhostel, member of the Bowdoin June Seminar, and Bates noonday concerts. She loved to knit and make her family’s bread.

On April 9, 1997 she was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, the Rev. Addison Eliot Steeves of Lisbon Falls and South Harpswell. He had served Unitarian Universalist Churches in Stockton, Calif., Dedham, Mass., Melrose, Mass., and Auburn, ME. She was also predeceased by her sister, Marjorie F. Ireland, of Watertown, Conn.; and three brothers, Vincent O. Ireland of Millinocket,  Erven S. Ireland of Gulfport and Inverness, Fla., and Weldon E. Ireland of Hartland.

She is survived by two daughters, Sally Elizabeth Steeves of Hudson, N.H., and Ellen Rosamond Steeves of Albuquerque, N.M.; and by one son, Mark Eliot Steeves, of Candler, N.C., a devoted daughter-in-law, Robin Smith of Candler, N.C.; a dear son-in-law, Norman Farkas, of Albuquerque, N.M.