Marion Gammon

W. STEWARTSTOWN – Marion Lizotte Gammon, 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, Dec. 8, 2022, at the Coös County Nursing Hospital in W. Stewartstown where she had resided since 2019. Known to her family as Mom, Nannie, and Nana Nana, Marion was born in Island Pond, Vt., on Jan. 27, 1934, a daughter to the late Clarence and Lena (Riggie) Corliss. She grew up with her older sister, Pearl, in North Stratford. Marion thought Stratford was “pretty boring” until she discovered big band music and dancing. Stories of her dance partners are well known to her family, and she always said “I always looked at their feet first!” She lost her father when she was only 17, and shortly thereafter met Camille “Pete” Lizotte who she would soon marry. She said that Pete couldn’t dance, but “he was handsome and rode a fast motorcycle!” After they married, they moved to Maine and together had 5 children. Over time and with the children grown, Pete and Marion parted ways. She soon met Reginald Gammon, a wonderful, kind soul who quickly became part of Marion’s family. During this more relaxed time in her life, she devoted much of her time camping at Dummers Beach at Weld Lake, working as an LNA at a local nursing home, and opening the “Knotnac,” a gift shop specializing in macrame and silk floral design, all the while caring for her own mother. Even with all that, she was always there to help her children when it came to painting, wallpapering, and decorating their homes, of which they did plenty. Marion loved to cook and her custard pie was the best. She would always giggle when another’s custard pie fell a bit short while using the same recipe. The holidays always found her in her daughter’s kitchen making her Christmas fruitcake, wild cranberry sauce, and mincemeat. At family-filled Thanksgiving dinners, she always said grace, filled with love, gratitude, and gratefulness. Those meals also always included boiled onions, just for her. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, and found great joy and pride in watching her great-grandchildren. Marion was constantly amazed at how quickly children grow and how much energy they have. She loved them all! All who knew and loved her will miss her quick wit, funny winks, stories, and the occasional slip of a naughty word, or two. During her long life, Marion experienced a lot of pain, a well. Losing a daughter, Terrie, and her son, David, was almost more than she could bear. And she later cared for her husband, Reggie, as he slipped into the darkness of Alzheimer’s Disease. As her own health declined, she went to Vermont to live with her daughter, Debby, and also spent some time at the Michaud Manor in Derby Line. There she enjoyed playing cards, finding her family and friends on Facebook, and going for long car rides, sometimes for hours, loving every minute, especially if the ride ended with an ice cream stop. When it became all to obvious that Marion was experiencing the same struggle and darkness that had afflicted her beloved Reggie, she became a resident of the Coös County Nursing Hospital. One of the things there that would bring a smile to her face was to have the staff greet her with a “Good Morning, Beautiful!” or “Look at those beautiful blue eyes!” Marion’s family cannot express enough gratitude and appreciation for all the dedicated aides and nurses there and the exceptional and loving care given to her, even while working through all the COVID restrictions. Marion is survived by her oldest daughter, Deborah (Robert) Rancourt of Clarksville; two sons, Peter (Ruth) Lizotte of Oakland, Me., and Paul (Dolores) Lizotte of Casa Grande, Ariz.; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Reggie; a daughter, Terrie Lizotte Clement; a son, David Lizotte; and two sisters, Pearl Corliss Sheltry and Hollie Corliss. At Marion’s request, there are no public calling hours. A celebration of her life and a graveside service will be held in the spring of 2023 at the Oakgrove Cemetery in Gardiner, Maine. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mrs. Gammon may be made to Felines & Friends Foundation, P.O. Box 1316, Newport, VT 05855; or online at www.fffvt.org. FFF works to reduce the staggering number of unwanted cats through ‘Trap-Neuter-Return’ (TNR). They also stabilize barn-cat colonies, reduce free-roaming cats, and provide spay-neuter services, vaccinations, and placement of adoptable cats. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Marion Gammon

January 27, 1934 - December 8, 2022