FARMINGDALE ~ Betty Beryl Marson Bennett, age 87, passed away on the first day of spring, 2014, at her current home in Farmingdale, Maine. Betty was born at her grandparent’s farm in Wayne on September 7, 1926 to George and Vera (Lovejoy) Marson. She spent most of her childhood in her beloved hometown of Wayne, Maine. After graduating from Winthrop High School, Betty attended nurses training at Maine General Hospital in Portland, Maine. During this time, she met and fell in love with handsome Army Sergeant Byron R. Bennett. He was stationed at Fort McKinley on Great Diamond Island in Casco Bay, where they danced into each other’s lives. They were married August of 1946 and they base-hopped throughout the country for the next 14 years. In 1958, Byron was deployed to Germany and Betty gathered up her children and settled into their first home in Wayne. After Byron’s retirement from the Army in 1960, the family began refurbishing their old house and raising their family together. Betty was an enthusiastic participant in all things community: scouting, Minta Class, Literacy Volunteers, town and church suppers, the United Way, Meals on Wheels, a History Helper at the local elementary school, multiple church and town committees, politics, AFS, Senior Luncheon, adult and student Sunday School…and on and on. Somewhere between raising her own family, opening her home to nurture many young lives, and volunteer work, Betty pursued her thirst for learning new things and was an avid reader and supporter of her local library. She loved people, ideas, and a good debate! Artistically, she tackled many mediums for creative expression: painting, stained glass, pottery, flower arranging, upholstering her own furniture, and who doesn’t fondly remember the beautiful balsam wreaths and bows that adorned the doorways in her village every Christmas season. This creativity was most apparent in the beautiful gardens she created and tended wherever she called home. Betty had an internal need to go out and experience things and be physically a part of them which led to her great passion for travel. At the drop of a hat Betty would have her bags packed and ready to set off on a new adventure. This wanderlust took her many places around the world such as Europe, Mexico, the Holy Land, Turkey and the Baltics. These were not luxury vacations for her, but the deep interest in her faith roots and for better understanding of other cultures. Betty stepped foot in most of our states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Betty was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Byron; son Keith A. Bennett and step son Stephen R. Bennett, Sr. Surviving are her brother, George C. Marson of Farmingdale; daughters Cheryl Ladd and husband Dennis, Carol Crothers and husband Marshall, Crystal Guerrette and husband Marc, and one more “daughter” Jillicans and husband Ron; daughter-in-law Martha (Bennett) Jackson; grandchildren Stephen, Michael, Megan, Amy, Scott, Evan, Noah, Lyndsey, Melissa and Jeremy; and great grandchildren Danielle, Thomas, Keith, George, Tucker, and Tannar. Interment will be in May at the Maine Veteran’s Cemetery. A celebration service will be held at the Wayne Community Church sometime early this summer. Memorial donations may be made in Betty’s memory to the Wayne Community Church Endowment Fund, PO Box 300, Wayne, ME 04284. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, One Church Street, Augusta. Memories, condolences, photos, and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com