Lucy Carter Melvin

Lucy Searby Melvin, December 10, 1931 – September 27, 2025

When attempting to sum up Lucy's life, sailing, Maine, pets, quirky gifts, fierce independence, and many moves come to mind.

Lucy was a self-proclaimed Army brat. Born in Fort Sill, OK, she was the eldest child of Muriel (Molly) MacLeod Searby and Brigadier General Edmund W. Searby. After General Searby's death in France during WWII, Lucy, her mother and brothers, Frederick and Daniel, moved to York, PA to be closer to family. There she met and later married Thomas C. Schmidt.

The moves continued, this time with Lucy and Tom's children in tow; Peter, Drusilla and Thos. New homes and adventures were found in Bogota, Colombia, New London, CT, Longmeadow MA, Zululand, South Africa, Buffalo, NY, and a few homes in Rhode Island.

In the late 1960s, the first sailboat joined the family. The 25' sloop was promptly filled with the family of five (and a dog) for a three-week trip from Lake Ontario to Maine. Over the years the boats changed, and adventures continued including Lucy's years spent single-handed sailing up and down the East Coast.

Maryland joined the ever-growing list of places she called home, and where Lucy met and married Ridgely Melvin (d. 1999).

Later, Lucy and Ridgely, when not enjoying life on Melvin Point in Annapolis, Maryland, sailed the world on Song, an Ocean Cruising 40. They crossed the Atlantic twice, spending years exploring Europe and the Mediterranean.

Amidst all the moves and sailing adventures, her cottage on MacMahan Island, Maine was a constant. Lucy loved to sit on the porch and "monitor the tides". She watched her children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren explore the island, learn their knots, boat skills, and how to monitor the tides.

Fiercely intelligent, Lucy flew through books and kept libraries busy. Crosswords, bridge and intellectual debates were a passion. She took up water coloring, knitting and needlepoint with similar talent.

In 2023, she moved one last time to Wareham, MA where she died in her home.

Lucy is survived by her brother, Daniel Searby, children, Peter Schmidt and wife Barbara, Dru Schmidt-Perkins and husband Louis Perkins, and Thos Schmidt, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She is also survived by stepdaughters Jane Melvin Amsbaugh and husband Glenn, Elizabeth Melvin MacKenzie and Mary Ann Melvin Slocumb, three step-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren.