Mary Beresford Owens, 78, of Alna, formerly of Lakeland, Fla., passed away on the morning of April 17 at the Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta. Born on Oct. 30 1927, in Los Angeles, Cal., she was the only child of Lester T. and Luella E. Beresford. Along with her parents, Mary moved and spent several years in New York before moving to Michigan and graduating from East Lansing High School. She graduated from Michigan State University, and went on to teach school in Michigan, in both the Lakeview and Grosse Pointe school systems. She later went back to school, and at the age of 50 received her Masters degree from Wayne State University. In 1950 she married John Douglas Owens, and together they loved to travel. She was an avid reader, swimmer, and loved to cook. She recently moved to Maine with her daughter, after living for many years at the Sandpiper Golf and Country Club in Lakeland, Fla. She was predeceased by her husband in 2004. She is survived by two children, Amy Preston and husband Mike of Alna, and James E. Owens of Florida. A service for Mary will be held at the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church in Michigan at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kno-Wal-Lin, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841 or the hospice of your choice. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
