Marilyn R. Ashton

Portland - Marilyn Rideout Ashton passed away quietly at her home in Portland, Maine on Wednesday, February 17. Marilyn was born in Lewiston, Maine on June 16, 1940. She was the daughter of Wynona Thayer Rideout and Gordon Rideout formerly of South Paris, Maine. She married John V. Ashton in 1958 and resided in Norway, Maine, where they lived and raised three children. She worked as a medical secretary in Norway until she moved to Portland in 1980. While living in Portland, she worked for the Federal Government, Key Bank, and later retired from a supporting role at Shalom House, Inc. in 2005. She was an amateur artist who exhibited many of her paintings in various venues around Maine. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed the courses she attended at the University of Southern Maine. She had been involved in volunteer activities at Mercy Hospital, the Portland Public Library,served as a board member for The Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine, The Bradley Foundation, and the Local Chapter 228 of AARP. Her church affiliation has been with both the Universalist/Unitarian and the State Street Congregational Church. She was a very loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend to many people. She was always positive and chose to look on the brighter side of lifes challenges. She is predeceased by her parents, and daughter-in-law Heidi Ashton. She is survived by son Alan V. Ashton of Portland, ME., her daughter Carla Ashton-Cohen and husband Stephen Cohen of Cambridge, MA., her daughter Alicia White of Meredith, NH., brother Alan Rideout of Malden, MA., five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. There will be an informal gathering to remember Marilyn at 100 State St. Portland, ME in the auditorium on Saturday February 20 from 3:00-5:00pm. A memorial service will be held at Fort Williams Park, 1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth, ME on June 18, 2016 at 1:00PM. For more information email: cashtonc@gmail.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. In lieu of flowers people may make a donation to the Shalom House of Portland, Maine, www.shalomhouseinc.org, or the Osher Life Long Learning Center at the University of Southern Maine www.osherfoundation.org.