1920 – 2015

PARIS — Mary S. Billings, 94, of Bryant Pond died Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Market Square Health Care Center.

She was born in Hanover on Nov. 6, 1920, the daughter of Arthur and Una Roberts Stearns. She graduated from Gould Academy in 1938 and the University of Maine (Normal School, Farmington) in 1941, with a bachelor’s degree. She married Robert Billings in 1943.

She and her husband ran a gun shop on Railroad Street in Bethel and later, the Bethel General Store for 12 years. She was an elementary teacher in Wilson’s Mills, West Bethel and Woodstock, retiring in 1980 after 20 years.

Mary was a member of the Woodstock-Greenwood Senior Citizens, an 80-year member of the Bear River Grange and Franklin Grange, a member of the Bryant Pond Baptist Church, and a charter member and past president of the Woodstock Historical Society.

She was the best wife, mother and grandmother anyone could have.

Mary is survived by two sons, Larry of Bethel, and Paul and his wife, Vicki, of Oxford; granddaughter, Tabitha Tolub and husband, Joshua; great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Tovah; nieces and nephews, Sally Sawyer, Lillian Brooks, Elsie and husband, Larry Bonney, Nancy and husband, Larry Blodgett, Julie and husband, Kevin Behnke, Arthur

Stearns and wife, Mina, and Esther and husband, Douglas Gerdman; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Stearns; and many great-nieces and -nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Robert; and a brother, George Stearns.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Market Square Health Care Center for the special care Mary has received in the past four years. Thanks to Beacon Hospice staff for the past few months of care with special thanks to Kelly Thurston for her love and support.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.