Mary A "Marlee" Carter

Mary A. Carter "Marlee" 82 passed away on September 19, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, with her husband by her side.
Born in Hartford Connecticut on March 2, 1943 to Kenneth John Spellman and Joyce G. Spellman. Marlee was raised in East Hampton CT, and graduated from Robinson HS in Tampa Fl.
She met her husband Jim when they were both in Jacksonville Florida. She was at St. Vincent's School of Nursing in Jacksonville FL. Jim was stationed at Naval Air station Jacksonville.
She and Jim taught their children to work hard and value family. They built their home in New Gloucester, where they raised their family and had a small farm with goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs.
Marlee was a nurse most of her life, working at Purdue Health Clinic, Home Hospital in LaFayette Indiana, Maine Medical Center in CICU, CMMC, American Red Cross, and as a school nurse in Pownal.
She was a teacher... She taught Tole Painting, Stenciling, Quilting, and embroidery. She taught classes at Mid State College for students aspiring to be CNAs, Medical Assistants, and Nurses. She taught at Gray New Gloucester High School in the Functional Life Skills classroom where she taught her students to bake bread.
She had a TV series on Maine Public Television titled Stenciling with Marlee Carter. She stenciled many historic homes in Maine, including the Hannibal Hamlin House in Paris ME.
She owned and ran a quilt Shop in North Windham and Gray, where she taught Stenciling and Quilting. She was an avid quilter and taught many people to quilt over the years. Her daughters joked that she had "groupies" everywhere she went. She had a tip for every quilting challenge. One of her favorite sayings was "It will Quilt out". Over the years she empowered so many women who thought "Oh, I can't do that," that in fact they COULD do that. She learned that from her Aunt Mamie. Marlee had several quilts entered in National Quilt Shows in Paducah KY.
Marlee and Jim celebrated 61 years of marriage in August 2025. She taught her three children Maureen Higgins (David), Colleen Strickler (Dane), and James Carter (Carrie) that hard work pays off.
She is pre-deceased by her Parents Kenneth John Spellman, Joyce G. Spellman, and her sister Jayne Cartier. She is survived by her Husband James A. Carter, Daughters Maureen Higgins and Husband David, Colleen Strickler and Husband Dane, Son James M. and Wife Carrie. Grand children Bridget and Kevin (Maureen), Maxwell and Mary (Colleen), Josiah, Ethan, Silas, and Seth (James). And three Great grandchildren, Lillyana Carter, Finnegan Carter, and Jackson Antunes.
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