Person Page - 309

J. C. CROSS

- Friends of John C. Cross, veteran court messenger of the supreme Judicial court, regret his death which occurred at his home in this town Monday following a long period of failing health. For many years, Mr. Cross served the county as messenger of the supreme court and thereby gained a wide acquaintance. He was about 78 years of age and for many years was employed as a scaler at the old Gilman saw mill in this town. He was a staunch republican and politics, and the discussion of politics was his chief hobby. He was affiliated with several secret societies and was a man who was respected by a large circle of acquaintances. He is survived by a widow and one daughter, Mrs. Elias Hutchins of New Haven, Conn.⁸

Marilyn J. McGaffin

SACO - Marilyn J. McGaffin, 83, passed away May 25, 2015 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough with her loving family beside her. She was born in Dexter, ME June 21st, 1931, the daughter of Donald and Iva Wood Cross. Marilyn shared stories of her childhood on Moosehead Lake, fishing with her grandmother, for the guests at Kineo Island. She had fond memories of living her teen years at the Hill School in Pottstown, PA, where her father was a faculty member. She met and married Fred R. Abbott who suddenly passed in 1955. With two small children she lived in Dexter where she met and later married James McGaffin. They moved to Saco in 1956. She spent 55 years raising her family and tending her Westward Lane home and gardens in the neighborhood she loved. She volunteered as the Sunday School secretary at First Parish Congregational UCC. The family camp on Lake Wassookeag allowed her to return to her roots in Dexter each summer where she created lifelong memories for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Marilyn and her husband Jim spent their retirement years wintering in Jensen Beach, FL. She became an integral part of the community and especially enjoyed the shuffleboard tournaments with her brother Nelson and his wife Judy. Family gatherings centered around the shared homemade meals that started from her garden. Marilyn kept the family connected with daily visits from three generations; son Donald and his wife Cathleen of South Portland, three daughters, Nancy Bolduc and her husband Buddy of Saco, Susan Graham and her husband David of Jaffrey NH, and Kathleen Martin and her husband Dennis of Casco, eight grandchildren, Kyle and his wife Angela, Jenna, Brad, Haley and her husband Kevin, Meredith, Courtney and her husband Chad, Kimberly, Timothy, and eight great- grandchildren, Troy, Dylan, Coralyn, Brooklyn, Brady, Lydia, Renwick, and Natalie. She is also survived by her brother Nelson Cross and his wife Judy of Port St. Lucie, FL, and her lifelong friend Beth Mathieson of Harmony. She especially appreciated her brother-in-law David McGaffin who helped take care of the family camp. We will all miss the generosity with which she lent her kind ear, deep intellect, and uncanny memory. For those wishing to make memorial contributions in her memory, please consider Southern Maine Agency on Aging, specifically Meals on Wheels. 136 US Route 1, #1, Scarborough, ME 04074. A family graveside service will be held this summer where she will be laid to rest with her husband at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter, ME. Dennett, Craig & Pate Saco will be handling the arrangements.²