Marion B. Staples

Grand Lake Stream – Marion B. (Calligan) Staples, 87, passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bangor. Marion was born in Grand Lake Stream on June 26, 1929, daughter of Bernard and Lillian (Hold) Brown.

After graduating from Lee Academy, she attended Husson College where she received her bachelor’s degree and later was inducted into the Husson Sports Hall of Fame for Women. Later, Marion went on to earn her MSed from University of Maine at Orono. In 1951, she married Charles F. Calligan, who predeceased her in 1972.

Marion was very proud to be a teacher for 29 years, beginning her career in Grand Lake Stream, moving on to Princeton schools, and retiring from the Woodland School System in Baileyville. Following her retirement, she married Avon Staples. Marion was a very avid outdoors person who grew up on a farm around animals. She enjoyed swimming and canoeing with her dearest friend, Barbara, as a youth. Marion especially enjoyed her time at camp. Fishing, hunting and snowmobiling were her favorite pastimes.

Marion was proud to be a “Grandlaker” and loved all community activities. She was a Communicant of St. James the Greater R.C. Church in Baileyville and a member of the Grand Lake Stream Historical Society, Women to Women, Grand Lake Stream Snowmobile Club, the local knitting club, and the Maine Teacher’s Association.

She was predeceased by her father Bernard Brown; her mother Lillian (Brown) Tracy; her first husband Charles F. Calligan; a son Chuck A. Calligan; her second husband Avon Staples; a brother Leo Brown and wife Laura; and a sister Frances LaPlant and husband Murray. Surviving are her son Bernie Calligan and wife Debbie of Hermon; a daughter-in-law Debbie Calligan of Manchester; a brother William W. Tracy and wife Joan of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Katy Roberts and husband Gary of NC, Kurt Calligan and wife Katie of CA, Erin Mooney and husband Aaron of NY, and Charlie Calligan and fiancé Kristen of ME; three great-grandchildren, Makayla Roberts, and Brady and Justin Calligan; two nephews, Ronald LaPlant and wife Kathy, and Stephen LaPlant and wife Cori; two nieces, Frances Tracy-Dunn and husband Ryan, and Joyce Brown; her step-children, Terry and wife Juanita, Dana, Robbi, Jay and husband Jim, and their families, and Jon and wife Diane and their children Shannon and Byron; dear friends Ken and Karen Sprague, Scott and Jo Mason, and Terry and Mariam Frost; and numerous friends in Grand Lake Stream.

Visiting hours will be held 10 – 11 a.m. Friday, May 12, 2017 at St. James the Greater R.C. Church in Baileyville, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Kevin J. Martin, Celebrant, 11 a.m. Friday, May 12. Burial will follow in the Village Cemetery in Grand Lake Stream. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion’s memory may be made to Grand Lake Stream Historical Society, 10 Brown Ln, Grand Lake Stream, ME 04668, or Children’s Discovery Museum, 171 Capitol St. #2, Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.

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