Marjorie C. Lanham

Marjorie Constance Harris (Oakley) Lanham of Hurlock died on Monday, April 22, 2002 from complications of surgery. Born May 3, 1922 in St. John New Brunswick, Canada, she was the daughter of the late George and Estelle Gaulton Harris (Oakley). She is survived by her loving and devoted hustand, Ray Edward Lanham. Marjorie immigrated to the United States with her family as a young girl, settling in Perth Amboy, NJ where she graduated from Woodbridge High School in 1940. Ray and Marjorie met on Stoney Creek while crabbing and married on December 16, 1941, nine days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at their son''s home. Marjorie, Ray and family moved to the Eastern Shore in 1952, first living on Tilghman Island where they operated a marina, Bay Hundred Co. Later they moved to stevensville and retired to Hurlock in 1990. Marjorie enjoyed many outdoor activities, including swimming, boating, hunting, gardening, bird watching, and fishing. She was one of the first female licensed captains on the chesapeake and loved piloting their boat, the Wild Goose. She waitressed and worked as a sail maker for many years. Marjorie became interested in genealogy later in life and was able to locate many relatives of her father still living in England. She always believed "There was someone out there somewhere." With the help of dear friends, Doris Thawley and two dedicated volunteers in England, Rose Reynolds and Valerie Fairbrass (who also became dear friends), Marjorie confirmed living relatives in England. She bravely wrote to Timothy Gadd, a cousin, in October 2001. On October 27, 2001 an e-mail confirmed their relationship. Marjorie documented her searches and worked for almost a year trying to trace her family. To her surprise and joy she discovered that her father still had a living sister and that she had an aunt, Irene Cook of England. In the brief period since October, Marjorie and Aunt Irene have corresponded and spoken numerous times. Aunt Irene has written numerous loving letters of our family history. In additon to her husband, she is survived by her children, Joyce Smith and her husband, Tommy of Casselberry, FL, Lynn Lanham and her husband, Marty Gaynor of Baltimore and Dennis Lanham and dear companion, Doris Thawley of Hurlock; a sister, Dorothy Shields of Annapolis; a half-sister, Patricia Bentley of Reisterstown and Bloxom, VA; a half-brother, Gary Harris (Oakley) of Edgewood; four grandchildren, Dennis Smith, Jenny Lanham, Andy Gaynor and Kari Gaynor; two great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Lisa Lanham of Hurlock on March 19, 1989 and a brother, Eugene Harris of Cumberland on March 11, 1994. Family and friends may call at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, Chester on Wednesday, April 24, from 7 - 9 PM. A Memorial service will be held at the Chapel of the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock on Thursday, April 25, 2002 at 1:30 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the Hurlock Volunteer Fire Dept., Hurlock, MD 21643 or The Easton Memorial Hospital Pastoral Care Dept., Attn: Sherry or Brian Chilels, 5 South, Spiritual Care, 219 S. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601.