Mary Lane Wilson
August 25, 1930 - May 27, 2026

Mary passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Rockland, Mass., at the age of 95. She would have celebrated her 96th birthday this August.

Born in Medford, Mass., she was raised at her family home in South Bristol, Maine. As a child, Mary attended a one-room/one-teacher schoolhouse for all of her elementary education.

As a young girl, she posed for renowned Chicago artist Malvin Marr Albright, who summered in Maine. A portrait of Mary painted by Albright remains part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Determined to pursue her higher education unavailable in her Maine hometown, Mary moved to Braintree, Mass., to live with relatives. There she attend Braintree High School.

It was after high school that she met the love of her life, David Wilson. They married and built a life together in the house they purchased in Rockland, Mass. There they raised two sons, Christopher and Todd. As a family, they shared countless experiences and adventures.

As a young woman, Mary drove vehicles for Red Cross blood drives. A talented artist, she attended Vesper George School of Art in Boston, studying illustration and further developing her creative gifts. She later worked as a ship draftsman at the Quincy Shipyard for General Dynamics.

A self-taught, skilled professional chair caner, Mary's craftsmanship can still be seen on period furniture pieces on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

She was an avid hunter, a competitive rifle club target shooter, a birdwatcher, a speed skater, and a member of an ice skating group. Her adventurous spirit carried into many pursuits, including sailing, downhill and cross-country skiing, and, shortly after scuba equipment became publicly available in the early 1950s, salvage and lobster diving.

Mary was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and earned a Class III whitewater kayaking rating.

As a founding member of the Wampanoag Paddlers Canoe Club, she led trips and helped foster a community of outdoor enthusiasts who shared her love of rivers and adventure.

Mary and David spent their years traveling around the United States, first by tent camping and later with a travel trailer, exploring the country together until David's passing in 2012.

In her later years, Mary found great joy in returning to her beloved Maine home on the Damariscotta River, where she enjoyed conversations with visiting neighbors and the peace of the place she always considered home.

Above all, Mary cherished her family. She deeply loved her late husband, David; her sons, Todd (who lived with her and cared for her) and Christopher and his wife, Caroline; her grandchildren, Cameron and Liam; and her extended family and friends.

Mary lived an extraordinary life defined by a love of adventure. Those who knew her were inspired by her energy, curiosity, and willingness to embrace new challenges throughout her nearly century-long life. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever celebrated.

There will be no funeral.
In a private ceremony, her ashes will be placed in the Damariscotta River at her home in Maine, where Mary will be reunited with her beloved husband, David Wilson, for a new adventure.