Margaret Louise (Verrill) Messinger

GRAY – Margaret Louise (Verrill) Messinger passed away due to natural causes on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Born in Syracuse, N.Y. on May 10, 1944, and raised in Gray, she was one of four children. Margaret graduated high school from Pennell Institute in 1962 and then earned her Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from Gorham State College/University of Maine in Portland.

In her 20s, Margaret spent several years teaching elementary school in Hawaii and at the West Point military base in New York. She then traveled through Europe and worked at a school on a U.S. military base in Germany. She then returned to Gray to raise her family and further pursue her career in education.

In 2013, Margaret retired from McMahon Elementary School in Lewiston, where for 25 years she impacted many lives in her role as a guidance counselor. Margaret loved her career and told many stories, especially about teaching in Hawaii and Lewiston. She was cherished by her students and friends, as she loved engaging with people and was an inspiration to us all.

She was such a smart, witty, and caring mother, sister, and friend, and will be so very missed. Gray was her favorite place, and, last but not least, she adored Elvis Presley.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents Leroy and Myrtle (Andresen) Verrill; and sister, Connie Verrill.

She is survived by two daughters, Annie Messinger of Charlotte, N.C., and Cori Messinger of Kennebunk; sister, Betty Cobb of North New Portland, brother, David Verrill of Charlotte, N.C.; and several cousins; nieces and nephews.

A reception will be held on Saturday, July 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in Gray.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Pierce Pond

Watershed Trust

(www.piercepondwatershed.org/donate) and

Boys and Girls Clubs

of Southern Maine

(www.bgcmaine.org/donate).

Margaret Louise (Verrill) Messinger