1955 – 2015

LEWISTON — Maryann D. Colby, 60, of Readfield passed away Sunday, Dec. 13, at Central Maine Medical Center.

Maryann was born in Lewiston on July 6, 1955, the daughter of Oayma J. and Sylvia (Morrissette) Colby Sr. She was educated in local schools and graduated from Oxford Hills High School in 1973. She graduated from the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and attained her master’s degree in literacy from the University of Maine in Orono in 1998, specializing in literary science.

She started her teaching career at Greene Central School and later taught at several schools in the Auburn school district as a literary specialist. Most recently, she taught at Washburn Elementary School in Auburn. She received the Reading Recovery Certificate, was a literacy coach and helped write a reading first grant for $500,000 for the Greene Central School, which the school received.

She married David D. Smith in 1981. He died on Oct. 13, 2007.

Maryann was a member of the Maine Teachers Association and the First Congregational Church in South Paris, where she taught Sunday school. Maryann was a jewelry maker and was owner-operator of Skunkworks Metal Works. She was also an avid gardener and a talented seamstress.

Besides her husband, she is predeceased by her parents; and a brother, Peter Colby, who died in 1973.

Surviving are two stepsons, Ceth Smith of Aurora, Colo., and Andy Smith of Wiscasset; two brothers, Buddy Colby and his wife, Joyce, of South Paris, and Alden Colby of Penobscot; five nieces, Debra Martin and her husband, Kevin, of South Paris, Daphne Chaplin and her husband, Dana, of Harrison, Diana McLaughlin and her husband, William, of South Paris, Kimberly Strondack and her husband, Larry, of Westbrook, and Jennifer Colby-Morse and her husband, Roger, of Dixfield. She also leaves behind a special friend, John Fogg of Greene.

Condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting www.chandlerfunerals.com.