SOUTH THOMASTON — Mary Ann Dorr, 65, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of January 3, 2025.

Mary was born on May 28, 1959 to Dorothy and Lewis Bowden. She was brought home from the hospital to the same family home located on the St George River that she would continue to spend much of her adult life in, creating family memories. Mary’s father passed away at a young age which left Mary to help her mother raise her younger brother and sister.

Mary was educated in Rockland schools, graduating from Rockland High School in 1977. She was smart as a whip and also creative. She had a natural talent as an artist and loved to paint on canvas.

Mary married her high school sweetheart at the age of 19 and by the age of 20 she gave birth to their daughter, Jeanette. Almost 7 years later she gave birth to their son, Alonzo III “Lonnie”.

As Mary raised her family in Warren, she also spearheaded the office management of her husband’s large plumbing company, showroom and storage units. After Mary’s husband’s passing in 1996 she moved back to her childhood home and began working as a receptionist at Penobscot Bay Medical Center. She loved greeting the staff, patients and visitors with a big smile each morning. This is when she grew her intense love for coffee and there was always one on her desk.

In more recent years, Mary began to struggle with a lot of painful health issues including a lung cancer diagnosis that she beat with courage and strength after intense surgeries and treatment. To say we were proud of her for enduring this process would be an understatement.

Mary met her companion, David James in 2020 and together with her best friend Bentley (her dog), the three of them created their beautiful home in South Thomaston. David added so much joy, support and love to Mary’s life. This support enabled Mary to be able to create the most amazing memories with her children and grandchildren that we will forever cherish.

We would often tease her for needing an extra couple of minutes to process the punchline of a joke or not remembering a birthday until the month after it passed but she was always the quickest to say “I love you” at the end of a phone call or visit. She loved dreamcatchers and dragonflies. It is said that dragonflies have an extra set of wings so that they can carry angels. It brings us peace to know that her mother was waiting with open arms to bring her into a pain-free and joyous eternity as she caught that early morning ride on dragonfly wings.

Mary is predeceased by her mother, Dorothy (Small) Robinson and step-father, Harvey “Hap”; father, Lewis Bowden; her maternal grandparents, Edith and Raymond Small; her paternal grandparents, Vernice and George Bowden; and her baby sister, Debbie.

She is survived by her loving companion, David James and their dog Bentley of South Thomaston; her daughter, Jeanette Knowlton and her companion Jason of Rockland; her son, Alonzo “Lonnie” Dorr, III and his wife Jessie of Waldoboro; her granddaughters, Alexia, Aubryn and Maddisen Knowlton of Rockland; her grandson Harvey of Waldoboro; her brother Lewis of South Thomaston; her sister Victoria “Torie” Witham and her husband Sean of Warren, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Visiting hours will be held Monday, January 20, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.

In the springtime Mary’s ashes will be laid to rest with her mother at her childhood home where they can rest together for eternity.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Donate Life America, Make-A-Wish Foundation or Pope Animal Shelter.

To share a memory or condolence with Mary’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.