Marjorie Merrill

Marjorie Merrill, 86, of Sanford, died Saturday, December 16, 2006 at St. Andre's Health Care Center in Biddeford.Marjorie was born in Saco on September 27, 1920 to Hampton and Elsie Hobbs Merrill. At the age of 12, she went to live with the Sabbath Day Lake Shakers after an illness in her family. She lived with them for 10 years, eventually becoming a Shaker Sister at the age of 20. She began studying the violin at the age of 13 and quickly became an accomplished violinist, playing 1st violin in the Shaker orchestra and giving a solo performance for President Hoover. At the age of 23, she joined the Women's Army Corps and was stationed for 3 1/2 years in Brooklyn, New York at Fort Hamilton working for the transportation corps. Following her service in the military, she attended the Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. She spent 20 years living in New Jersey where she met and married her late husband, Willis A. Stumpf. She then moved to the Sanford area where she spent the remainder of her life.Mrs. Merrill was interested in genealogy and her family history and was very proud of the fact that she was a Mayflower descendant. She was a very religious woman who had great faith in God. She was a rather quiet person but had an excellent sense of humor. She was very generous and got a lot of joy from giving to other people. Marjorie always looked for the best in the people around her and could find something good in everybody. She was a very kind and loving mother, grandmother, and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.Surviving are a son, William Stumpf of Wells; a daughter, Diane Stumpf of Sanford; a grandson, Vincent Dinuzzo of Sanford and a sister, Lucy Crockett of North Berwick.Services for Mrs. Merrill will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Disabled American Veterans, DAV Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Arrangements are through Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home in Springvale. To leave a message of condolence for the family please use the "condolences" tab to the left.