Mary Gilsey Parmley, longtime Newcastle resident, passed away on Dec. 23, 2011 from natural causes. Mary was born in New York City on Feb. 23, 1925. Her parents were Hilda and Gardner Gilsey. Until the age of five, she and her parents lived in a brownstone in Greenwich village. When the great depression hit, the family moved to their summer home in Hampton Bay, Long Island, N.Y. The salt water farm was located at the tip of the peninsula that the native Shinnecock Indians called “Good Ground.”
Mary spent endless summer days on the beaches of Long Island, N.Y. or out with her father collecting the various bountiful types of clams (cherrystone, quahogs and steamers). She also enjoyed fishing regularly. As a result, Mary acquired a deep respect for the world around her, the mountains, forests, shorelines and seas. Her love for animals was profound.
Mary married Ralph Parmley at the age of 22. He was employed by Pan American Airlines as the head supervising engineer to build airports in Africa during WWII. After the war they moved to Ireland and then eventually back to the U.S. in Mendham, N.J. There, Mary taught athletics at the Country Day School for 20 years. Then in the late 60s she became tired of New Jersey’s urban sprawl, deciding to move to Newcastle on the Damariscotta River.
She was an avid oyster lover and chose to take course on aquaculture at the University of Maine’s Darling Center in Walpole. This significantly changed the course of her life as well as others. Because of Mary and these others, the first Damariscotta aquaculture business was born. Always a believer in trying to protect the fragile environment, she was also later a founding member of the Damariscotta River Association.
Mary also was instrumental in creating the Lincoln County group home. She served as Newcastle selectman and was also on the board of the Watershed Ceramics Center for the Arts.
Sometimes known as “Crazy Oyster Mary” she will be remembered for her philanthropic works.
She is survived by her sons, Rodney, Randy and Robin Parmley as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial service to be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
