Marlene Witham Creighton passed away Jan. 20, 2016, at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Dec. 1, 1932, in Waldoboro, to Byron and Anna (Harkins) Witham.

Marlene graduated from Waldoboro High School in 1950 as class salutatorian. Following high school, she worked various jobs, including a position at Moody's Diner. She married Everett Creighton on Aug. 5, 1950, in Waldoboro. Shortly after getting married they moved to Everett's family dairy farm in Thomaston, where she raised her family and worked alongside her husband. She milked cows, drove the machinery and did all the bookkeeping. She cared for her grandmother-in-law and mother-in-law, who lived with them, and later in life for her father, who lived in Bremen.

Marlene's husband taught her to sail, and they sailed with their family, as a couple and with friends, all along the Maine coast. She and her husband also loved to travel; they visited most of the United States and took trips to England, Scotland, Alaska and Panama, as well as chartering sailboats in the Caribbean. She was a fabulous cook, loved to sew and made a lot of her children's clothing. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and at her children's schools when they were young. She was a member of Literacy Volunteers of America, and was named tutor of the year in 2005. But most of all, she was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, mentor and friend.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband; her brothers, Ronald, Bradley and Barry; and brothers-in-law, James Creighton and William Creighton. She is survived by her daughter, Laurie Allen and her husband, Stephen, of Limington; her sons, George Creighton and his wife, Susan, of Texas and Jeffrey Creighton and his wife, Hope, of Thomaston; her daughter, Robin Steindl and her husband, Dave, of Thomaston; her grandchildren, Kristen, Tyler, Jeffrey, Shelby, Cameron and Barry; her great-grandchildren, Brayden, Olivia and Brianna; her aunt, Bea Davis of Waldoboro; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday, Jan. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Thomaston Baptist Church. Interment will take place later in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marlene's name to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, or Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841.

Hall's of Thomaston has care of the arrangements.