Mary Jane Elizabeh McArthur

McARTHUR, Mary Jane Elizabeth Age 79, of Cohasset, a former teacher, author, genealogist, historian, community worker, and town official died Sunday, September 21, 2008. Mrs. McArthur, a former member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, retired in 1989, after teaching for 30 years in the Cohasset, Duxbury, and Scituate public schools. She was a member of the Cohasset Board of Selectman from 1981 to 1986, and chairperson from 1984 to 1985. She was the former member of many town government committees, including the Advisory Committee, Conservation and Historical Commission and the Government Island Study Committee. She was a director of the Cohasset Bicentennial, Inc. Mrs. McArthur was a member of the Cohasset Historical Society, the South Shore Genealogical Society and the Maine Old Cemetery Association. She was a member of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants and a direct descendant of four Pilgrims. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution as a direct descendant of Brig. General John Crane, a participant in the Boston Tea Party. She was the author of "The Ancestors and Descendants of Oliver Chase and Sarah Elizabeth Crane of Whiting, Maine", published in 2000. Mrs. McArthur, daughter of the late Louis and Bernice (Lewis) Doyle of Baileyville, Maine, was born at St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada in 1928. She graduated from St. Croix high School at Baileyville in 1946 and Boston University in 1950. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Earl R. McArthur, Jr.; daughter Susan M. Hamilton and her husband Philip Hamilton of Portland, Maine; daughter Dr. Katherine McArthur and her husband Bruce Creswell of Cohasset; four grandchildren Philip Chase Hamilton, Rachel Sprague Hamilton, Andrew Ovide Lemieux and Nicholas Paul Lemieux. She was predeceased by her brother Philip Doyle of Rio Rancho, NM. Mrs. McArthur and her husband and family spent many summers at their beloved log cabin on the Saint Croix River in Baileyville, Maine. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on October 4, 2008 at 10 A.M. in St. Anthony's Church, Cohasset. A Private interment will be held at Cohasset Central Cemetery, Cohasset. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Cohasset Historical Society, 106 South Main St., Cohasset, MA 02025 or to the Cohasset Central Cemetery, Cohasset, MA 02025. For an online guestbook, please visit www.mcnamara-sparell.com McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Homes 781-393-0200