VINALHAVEN — Marguerite I. Tolman, 84, suffered a fall in her room. A few days later on Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023, she died peacefully at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Born in Vinalhaven, June 19, 1939, she was the daughter of Wallace I. Young and Elin Margaret (Swanson) Young. She grew up around Old Harbor in the neighborhood of Dog Town. Educated locally she made it to the 9th grade, yet she was able to read and understand classic novels. When her eldest son was assigned, A Tale of Two Cities, she got a copy and read along with him to help him understand it.

A lifelong resident of Vinalhaven, she was a homemaker her entire married life. In her younger years she set the table three times a day for her family. An animal lover, she kept horses at the Circle T Ranch near the ferry landing. She also raised angora rabbits and even had a billy goat. There was always a dog and cat at the house, most notably, her beloved pug and dachshund. For a few summers, she peddled seafood from her pickup around town for her father.

In midlife, she was stricken with a form of schizophrenia. With the help of medication, she achieved reasonable clarity. She retained her sense of humor, and was able to maintain a relationship with her husband and family.

She took up art and painted many watercolors, some of which were sold at the local flea market.

On August, 31, 1954, Marguerite married Richard G. Tolman on the eve of hurricane Carol. Our father, who was known for his dry wit, said, “We got married during a hurricane and it’s been a hurricane ever since.” They
would divorce in 1959. They would remarry for good on September 11, 1967.

Marguerite was predeceased by her husband of more than 60 years on Dec.7, 2022; a son, Dana L. Thomas in 1992; and her second husband, Byron Thomas in 1964.

She is survived by three sons, Ashley W. Tolman, Courtland L. Tolman and his wife Roxanne, Jamie L. Thomas and his wife Yvonne, all of Vinalhaven; brothers, Roger W. Young of Vinalhaven, Victor H. Young of Norwich, Connecticut; three grandsons, Dana R. G. Tolman and his wife Chrissie of Westbrook, Byron Thomas, Liam Thomas both of Vinalhaven; lifelong friend Glennis Beckman of Vinalhaven; friends, Lucy Warner Kuemmerle of NYC and Vinalhaven, Penelope Lord of Wilton, New Hampshire, Margaret Nugent of Vinalhaven; her caretaker of many years, Julie Haley; and her friends and the staff of Bella Point in Camden.

She said, “I want to be remembered as doing the best I could with what God gave me.”

The family will remember Marguerite in a private ceremony.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to: Pope Memorial Humane Society, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, Maine 04841.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a memory or condolence with the Tolman family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.