Marcia Rogers Payson

Marcia Rogers Payson, 77, died peacefully on May 31, 2013, surrounded by family at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford following a courageous battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Marcia was born May 25, 1936, in Cortland, N.Y., to the late Wilbur H. and Dorla Smith Rogers. She was a 1954 graduate of Cincinnatus High School and a 1958 graduate of Cortland Teachers College (now SUNY Cortland). She was a remarkable elementary and middle school teacher, homemaker, healer, lecturer, Director of Religious Education, volunteer coordinator, caretaker, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and spouse. She had an infectious sense of humor, a keen intellect, an empathetic ear, a warm countenance and a justice-seeking spirit.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Robert E. Payson, and brother Wilbur C. Rogers. She leaves behind her beloved partner Nancy Cunningham of Saco; sons Rev. Aaron (Kristen) Payson and Marc Payson, both of Worcester, Mass.; grandchildren Hope Marie Rios of Davenport, Fla., Morgaine and Charles Payson of Worcester, and a great granddaughter, Nyah Nicole Morales of Florida; brothers Robert (Gloria) Rogers of Cortland, Donald Rogers of Mo., and Roy (Alyce) Rogers of Okla.; sisters Mary Lou Lehman of Johnson City, N.Y., Elaine (Jim) Aiken of Pitcher, N.Y., and Diane Slade of Groton; sister-in-law Maureen Rogers; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Since moving to Maine in 1999, Marcia was an active member of the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, a Life Member of Ferry Beach Park Association in Saco and a singer with Harbour Singers, a hospice choir based in Saco.

A Celebration of Life was held at 1:30 p.m. June 15 at the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Ave., Portland, ME 04103, with the Rev. Mykel Johnson officiating; interment at a later date will be in Taylor, N.Y. Arrangements are under the care of A.T. Hutchins Funeral and Cremation Services, Brighton Ave, Portland. To offer words of condolence and share memories with the family, please go to www.athutchins.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Marcia may be made to Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Ave., Portland ME 04103, or to Ferry Beach Park Association, 5 Morris Ave., Saco, ME 04072.