Mary Elizabeth “Marilis” Hornidge, 78, of Waldoboro, author and columnist for several local papers, died Jan. 20 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta following a sudden illness.
Marilis was born in Memphis, Tenn. Dec. 9, 1932, the daughter of John R. and Wilma Swinidler McCarroll, and was a graduate of Memphis schools, and Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and began work on her master’s degree there before marrying Henry T. Hornidge.
In the 1960s Marilis sailed with her husband in the “Frostbite Fleet” (winter sail boat racing) in Mamaronek, N.Y., as well as during the summer season. Tiring of crewing for her husband, she struck out on her own and skippered her own boat, Frostbiting.
An active writer and author, she penned many short stories while raising her family. Moving to Waldoboro in 1975, into the home she built together with her husband, she authored two books, “That Yankee Cat” and “Christmas Tales,” as well as writing her columns “Book Bag” and “Tangents” which appeared in the Courier Gazette and The Lincoln County News for many years.
As a book reviewer, she had the best of assignments, as she was a voracious reader of books, and she loved having publishers send many books her way.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Henry T. Hornidge of Waldoboro; daughter, Patricia T. Hornidge of Bedford Hills, N.Y.; grandchildren, Brendon W. Papa of Fleetwood, N.Y. and Shannon L. Papa of Gilbert, Ariz.; brother, John R. McCarroll of Eads, Tenn. sister, Suzanne Warner of Louisville, Ky.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A spring service is planned and will be announced by the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with the Hornidge family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the Scholarship Fund at Maine Media Women, P.O. Box 175, Round Pond, ME 04564.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
