Geraldine Laberee Smith Marks, widow of Maine State Police Major J. Edward Marks, died July 4 at Fieldcrest Manor in Waldoboro. A proud Daughter of the American Revolution, it seemed fitting that Mrs. Marks passed away on the 4th of July.
She was born in Lyons Falls, N.Y. on Feb. 9, 1917, the oldest child of Gladys Laberee Smith and Sherman Devere Smith. Geraldine graduated from Utica Free Academy in Utica, N.Y., in 1936.
Mrs. Marks spent her childhood summers in Maine at her grandparents’ farm in East Pittston, where she became an accomplished equestrian and swimmer. It was there that she met her future husband, State Police Sergeant “Eddie” Marks, who patrolled on horseback.
Following high school, Geraldine was accepted into nursing school in New York State, but instead, followed her heart to Maine.
She and Sergeant Marks were married on July 26, 1937, and with the advent of WWII and the impending nurses’ shortage, Mrs. Marks volunteered at Knox County General Hospital in Rockland, becoming a certified nurse’s aide. Her medical sense was always keen: at age 12, when her 2-year old brother ingested iodine, Geraldine quickly and successfully forced egg whites down his throat.
A devoted State Police wife, Mrs. Marks understood the many challenges that police faced. She was patient, loyal, and fiercely independent, able to artfully contend with the work environment associated with police work.
Mrs. Marks devoted much of her time to volunteering, organizing the D.A.R. Good Citizenship Award for many years, as well as serving as State Regent. But her greatest joy was leading the same group of Girl Scouts from Brownies to Senior Scouts, taking them on trips and to events, including The New York World’s Fair.
A docent at Montpelier, the Thomaston home of Revolutionary War General Henry Knox, Mrs. Marks helped organize hostesses and hosts for the annual Knox birthday celebration. Geraldine particularly enjoyed showing General William Westmoreland through the museum on one such occasion.
Mrs. Mark’s recorded genealogy spans over 1000 years, but she was especially proud of being descended from Revolutionary War soldiers on both sides of her family, Major John Ives of Connecticut and Captain Peter Laberee of Massachusetts. One of her greatest pleasures was returning to the region of her childhood where her forebears were early settlers.
Geraldine was predeceased by her husband; sisters, June Staples Dunton and Audrey Smith Pindar; and brother, Sherman King Smith.
Geraldine is survived by her daughter, Karen Marks Lemke and son-in-law, William of Lisbon Falls; son, Jack Jay Marks and wife Lorraine of Scottsville, Ky.; two granddaughters, Larissa Maria Lemke of Lisbon Falls and Debbie Jo-Ann Marks of Avon, Conn.; two grandsons, Richard Marks of Louisiana and John Edward Marks, Jr. of Kentucky; great-grandchildren, Collin William Lemke of Maine, Hunter and Paige Haywood of Connecticut, and Jessica Marks of Kentucky; brother, Capt. Granville I. Smith of Cumberland Foreside; sister-in-law, Eleanor W. Smith of Waldoboro; and many nieces and nephews.
A milestone for Mrs. Marks occurred in April in the birth of a great great grandson, marking five living generations.
Visitation July 7 at Hall and Bibber Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Thomaston. Celebration of Mrs. Mark’s life July 8 at Hall and Bibber Funeral Home. Internment followed at the Village Cemetery, Thomaston.
In Geraldine’s memory, contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall and Bibber Funeral Home and Cremation Service, P.O. Box 184, Thomaston.