Marie Shea, 89, a long time resident of Portland, ME and Durham, ME, died Monday, February 22, 2010 in Londonderry, NH at the home of her daughter-in-law. She was born on April 9, 1920 in Lanesboro, MA, a daughter of the late George P. and Alice (Ryer) Mathes, and was educated in the Lanesboro school system. Mrs. Shea graduated from the Portland School of Beauty during WWII. She worked in the South Portland Shipyard building Liberty ships. After the war, she owned Marie's Beauty Shoppe that she operated with her husband Bill. She was a well known hair dresser in Portland for many years.
Survivors include her brother, Ralph Mathes; her daughter-in-law, Kelley Smith; stepdaughters, Diane Gogan, Jean Shea Harden, and Marie Cassidy; two grandchildren, Laurae Richards and Michael Smith; eight great grandchildren; as well as several step grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, William W. "Bill" Shea, two sons, Kenneth Smith and Raymond L. Smith, and several siblings.
There are no calling hours. Following cremation, a graveside service will be held in the Spring in the family plot in Riverside Cemetery in Newport, ME. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is handling the arrangements.