Drew, Mary M., 91, May 11, 2013. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 5 at the Evergreen Cemetery. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home.
HOULTON – Mary Margaret Drew, 91, died May 11 in Caribou. She was born October 15, 1921, in Lansing, MI, the daughter of Martin and Anna (Dickinson) Clark.
After receiving her College Teaching Certificate in 1942, Mary joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) on Jan 21, l943. On July 3, l943, the new Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was formed, transitioning the members to work for the Army. Mary became one of the pioneer service members of that organization. She was honorably discharged on May 30, l944. Her awards and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal and the Women’s Army Corps Service Medal.
Mary met and married her husband, Paul, in Texas, and in l946 moved to Paul’s hometown of Houlton, Maine, where they raised their family. Mary and Paul, also an Army veteran, owned and operated a small family store in Houlton called Drew’s Filling Station. The family was proud of their military service and all three of their children served in the Navy. The Drew’s were married for 60 years.
Mary volunteered for several organizations including fundraising for the American Red Cross, the Houlton library and she counted ballots during elections. She was also very interested in genealogy and could trace her family back to the 1800’s.
In 2008, Mary moved from Houlton to Maine Veteran’s Home in Caribou. She attended most of the Home’s daily activities and enjoyed being with the staff and her fellow veterans. She was recently designated April Veteran of the Month.
She is survived by her children, Dennis Paul Drew and his wife, Bonnie Lee of Presque Isle, Gary Drew of Mansfield Center, CT, Margaret Ann “Peggy” Reynolds and her husband, Thomas of Jennings, FL; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; a brother, Lawrence Clark of Grand Ledge, MI; a sister, Norene Miller of Lansing, MI. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul; a sister, Rosalie O’Conner; a brother, Douglas Clark.
Graveside funeral services will be held 1 p.m. on Friday, July 5 at the Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Kenneth Fox officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 7 Hatch Drive #250, Caribou, ME 04736. For an online memory book and to leave condolences, please visit www.bowers funeral.com.
