SCARBOROUGH — Marguerite Steele Nelson, 85, of Scarborough, died Feb. 23 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

She was born in Portland June 8, 1927, to William H. Steele and Mary J. Gorrivan.

Nelson attended Portland schools. As a young girl she worked in the kitchen at Queen’s Hospital, now known as Mercy Hospital, and during World War II she worked in the South Portland Shipyard. She also worked at Eisman’s Twine Factory and the former Osteopathic Hospital, from where she retired in 1979.

Nelson was active in the Scarborough senior community since the mid-1980s. She was instrumental in organizing senior trips through Scarborough Community Services, and was its president for several years. She was also a member of the Nonesuch Senior Citizens and the Southern Maine Agency on Aging. She loved to travel and went on many trips with her friends.

In March of 2002, she was recognized by the Department of Human Services for her volunteering for the Older Americans Act and Nutrition Program. She liked to tell people that she was a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels for over 20 years; and then she became a recipient of them.

Known to her friends as Maggie, she always had a story to tell from her past and always was ready to brighten everyone’s day. 

Even with her limited vision, she enjoyed Red Sox games and NASCAR. She looked on the bright side of life, and said that God only gave you what you could handle.

Her children and grandchildren were the light of her life, and she attended sports events and other activities of her children, grandchildren and great-grandson. She was very proud of their accomplishments and was quick to tell all of her friends about them. She supported them in everything they did. Nelson had a very limited academic education but was very educated in the ways of life.

She was predeceased by her parents, sisters Marion Thomas and Jane Cornish, and son Henry E. Nelson III.

Survivors include her daughter, Beverly, and Carl Dahms of Scarborough; son George and Tracey Nelson of Huntersville, N.C.; her grandchildren, Terrence and Christine Merrill of Saco, and Amanda and Adam Nelson of Huntersville, N.C.; and her great-grandson, Matthew Merrill. She is also survived by her step-grandchildren, Sherry Frost, Carl Dahms Jr. and Heidi Dahms, step-great-grandchildren Ashli Frost and Kapriece Dahms, and step-great-great-granddaughter Teagan McGovern. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their appreciation for all of the care from the staff at Pine Point Center, Gosnell House and Nelson’s special bus driver, Lloyd Cushing.

A funeral service was held Feb. 27 at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel in South Portland. Burial will be at the South Gorham Cemetery in the spring.

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