CAPE ELIZABETH -- Martha Ellen Dearborn Durrance, 95, died Sept. 29, 2014, at the South Portland Nursing Home, after a period of declining health. Mrs. Durrance, who lived most of her life in Cape Elizabeth, was the eldest daughter of the late Philip Murray Dearborn Sr. and Stella Jane Fotter Dearborn of Cape Elizabeth. She was born March 1, 1919, in Turner, and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School before attending business school in Portland. After high school, she worked in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Department of Commerce and later for the University of Massachusetts at Amherst before returning to Cape Elizabeth to become treasurer at Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth during World War II. While working at the fort, she met James W. Durrance, an Army sergeant from Tampa, Florida. They were married in Feb. 1946. After living briefly in Tampa and in Windham, the couple built a home in Cape Elizabeth. For 25 years, Mrs. Durrance worked as a sales manager for Tupperware in southern Maine. She was predeceased by her husband; a sister, Mary A. Jordan of Florida; and a brother, Philip M. Dearborn Jr. of Va. She is survived by three daughters, Nancy H. Atwell and husband Thomas G. Atwell of Cape Elizabeth, Jane L. Durrance and husband Richard N. Terry of Everett, Wash., and Martha L. Durrance and husband Francis X. Gilpin of Tampa, Fla.; four grandchildren, Tandy E. Ratliff and husband Christian of South Portland, Zachary J.D. Atwell and wife Marah of Medford, Mass., Kirsten Durrance Terry of Michigan and Ellen Durrance Terry of Colorado; and four great-grandchildren, Brighid A. 'Molly' and Maeve D. Ratliff of South Portland, and Alana K. and James W. Atwell of Medford; a brother, Richard W. Dearborn and his wife Tommy of Mass.; a brother-in-law, David Jordan of Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Lynne Dearborn of Va. She was predeceased by her husband; a sister, Mary A. Jordan of Fla.; and a brother, Philip M. Dearborn Jr. of Va. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth. The family thanks the South Portland Nursing Home staff for their outstanding care. Arrangements by Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Home, Buxton. Donations in Mrs. Durrance's memory may be sent to: The Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society 6 Scott Dyer Road Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107