FAIRHAVEN -- Marie B. Early, 89, of Fairhaven died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003. She was the wife of J. Richard Early; they were married in June 1940.
Born in Reading, Pa., on Aug. 14, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Alvin and Keturah (Smoll) Bewley. She attended public schools in Reading and was employed in that area until moving to Portsmouth, Va., in 1944. She moved to the New Bedford area in 1945 after her marriage and lived in Fairhaven most of her life.
Mrs. Early maintained an interest in a wide range of volunteer activities throughout her lifetime. She served more than 6,000 hours with the auxiliary of St. Luke's Hospital and was a board member and officer with the Garden Club of Greater New Bedford, where, for a time, she was chairwoman of the program committee. She was a member of the ladies branch of the Port Society.
In the 1950s, she was a Girl Scout troop leader and for a time was on the Scouts' regional board of directors. Through the years, she also was a member of the board of the Visiting Nurses of Fairhaven, the YWCA, the Fairhaven Mothers' Club, the Colonial Club of Fairhaven, and was vice chairwoman of the Sippican chapter of the Massachusetts Archaeological Association.
She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School, an aide to Vacation Bible School and a member of the Altar Guild.
She was a skilled floral arranger with both live and dried flowers, many of which she raised in her own gardens. She also enjoyed arts and crafts projects using shells taken from her own collection gathered during her annual trips to Sanibel Island, Fla., which she sold at area craft fairs or gave to friends, especially to children.
Survivors include her widower; a son, Greg A. Early, and his wife, Andrea, of Falmouth; a daughter, Dr. Ann M. Early of Fayetteville, Ark.; two sisters, Katherine Reimert of Sinking Spring, Pa., and Elizabeth Sarangoulis of Reading.
Her memorial service will be held on Nov. 15, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Place, Fairhaven, Ma.
Remeberances in her name may be made to the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Lukes Hospital, 101 Page St.. New Bedford, Ma. 02740, the memorial fund of the Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Place, Fairhaven, Ma. 02719 or to the Ladies Branch of the New Bedford Port Society, 17 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, Ma. 02740.
Arrangements are by the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford.