Margie Ruth Garrison Sallies

ANDERSON, S.C. – Margie Ruth Garrison Sallies, 93, of Norway; Meredith, N.H.; and Anderson, S.C., passed away May 26, 2025, after a short hospitalization.

Margie was born and raised in Anderson, S.C., the daughter of Mary Elizabeth (Boggs) Garrison and Earl H. Garrison. She was the middle child of five, with older sisters Etherleen and Frances and younger brothers Jim and Robert.

Margie attended Anderson College and Furman University. She graduated with a double major in history and psychology and was active on her school newspapers, including serving as editor at Furman.

Too young to attend graduate school immediately, Margie won a Danforth Foundation Fellowship. As one of the leadership development experiences, the program sent her to the University of New Hampshire for a year to work with students and youth groups on religious education, which was her passion. While there, she met and fell in love with Robert Campbell Sallies, of Meredith, N.H., who was majoring in sociology and hoped to become a minister. They married within two years, and, after her husband graduated, moved to Nottingham, N.H., where Bob served as student minister at the Nottingham Community Church and Margie cared for their newborn daughter as well as assisted in church activities.

Margie was active in religious education and church work throughout her life. She taught Sunday School and worked with youth and women’s groups at churches her husband served, including the Universalist churches in Westbrook, South Paris, and Bryant Pond. She developed religious education curriculum for the district and national levels of the Unitarian-Universalist Association (UUA). She served one term as layperson president of the UUA’s Northeast District and trained many district religious education instructors. Margie earned a Master of Religious Education at Andover-Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Center, Mass.

Throughout their 71 years of marriage, Margie and Bob were always strong partners in their careers and in most other interests. In addition to the church work, for several years they managed the Advertiser- Democrat, a weekly newspaper in Norway, Maine, that had been in the family since the 1880s. Margie served as editor, and Bob was publisher. They loved to attend the theater and to travel domestically and overseas. Although blessed with only one child, they loved kids, and their home at Round Pond was always filled with children visiting from their large extended family. And they had, and drew great enjoyment from, their many pet dogs and cats.

Margie always had beautiful flowers and plants wherever she lived. She also read constantly and widely. Monet and other impressionists were another passion. For several years she volunteered in the Education Department at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She studied many languages, in preparation for whatever foreign country they were about to visit. Margie was a fierce field hockey player in high school, and in later years especially enjoyed watching several great-great-nieces and nephews play soccer.

Margie was predeceased by her husband; parents; and all four siblings.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, E. Elizabeth Sallies of Falls Church, Va.; a cherished sister-in-law, JoAnn Bolt Garrison of Anderson, S.C.; and dozens of beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Margie’s wish was to be cremated, and she was adamant that there be no formal memorial service. There will be a graveside committal service sometime in late summer at the Norway Pine Grove Cemetery in South Paris. The exact date is yet to be determined.

Margie will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Our heartfelt love and appreciation for her memorable life and beautiful soul continues.

The family thanks the Sullivan-King Mortuary in Anderson, S.C.; the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home in Laconia, N.H.; the Chandler Funeral Home in South Paris; and the Pine Grove Cemetery Association for their assistance in these arrangements.

For any who wish to make

a contribution in

Margie’s memory,

please send donations

to any of the following:

*Interlakes Summer Theater in Meredith, N.H.;

*Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, N.H.;

*South Paris Universalist Church in South Paris; or

*Flat Rock Presbyterian Church in Anderson, S.C.