Marilyn Joanne (Bridges) Palmer passed away peacefully May 21, 2020 at Avita of Stroudwater, located in Westbrook, Maine.  She was known for her sweet, loving nature, her intelligence, interest in current events, politics and sports, sense of humor, and her gift of conversation. Marilyn comes from a large extended family in Kittery, ME who loved her, as did her many friends.

Marilyn was born April 20, 1934 in Kittery Point, Maine, the daughter of Thomas Samuel Bridges and Marion Agnes (Leary) Bridges.  She grew up at the family home on Philbrick Road and graduated from Robert W. Traip Academy in 1951. She was an accomplished student athlete at Traip, earning her degree specializing in office management.  Marilyn was the star of her varsity basketball team, leading the team in points and taking the school to the state tournament. Marilyn enjoyed playing the piano and would entertain her family and friends often.

Marilyn chose to serve her country by working as a civil servant at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  She made a successful career utilizing her administrative skills and positive personality in Transportation Shop 02, receiving numerous Outstanding Employee awards during her fifteen years of service.

In 1957, Marilyn met her husband, Curtis W. Palmer (Chuck).  They were married in 1958 and together raised two children.  After a good 62-year life together, Marilyn passed away on the day that Curtis was laid to rest at the First Parish Church cemetery in York, Maine.

Marilyn and Chuck discovered golf in the 1960's, when they both joined golf leagues at the York Golf & Tennis Club.  She came to love both the game and her home course, where she had many family members who also play and a group of people who became lifelong friends.  Marilyn was a member for nearly 57 years, where she served the Club in many capacities.  She captained league teams, organized tournaments and socials and was Leader of the handicap committee for the women members for many years.  She participated in numerous New England area tournaments and was proud to serve on, then lead, the scoring committee for the Seacoast Amateur Championship Tournament for 35 years.

Marilyn always loved sports and cheered passionately for her favorite teams, the Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and New York Yankees.  She followed her teams intensely, quoting statistics and recapping the previous day's games.  She enjoyed following her children's and grandchildren's sporting activities, adding an interest in professional soccer late in life.

She enjoyed good times that are too numerous to count growing up in Kittery with her siblings and cousins in the Bridges, Wyman and Leary families. She loved her husband Chuck, her children, grandchildren, and her beloved Golden Retriever, Dooley.

Marilyn is survived by her son Stephen Palmer and life partner Patricia, of Delray Beach, Florida, daughter Lynne Palmer and husband Wesley Franklin and grandchildren Haley and Christopher Franklin of Scarborough, Maine.

Marilyn is also survived by the siblings she loved, her brother Thomas S. Bridges Jr. and nieces Laurie Simpson and Linda Bridges, sister Catherine Hall and nephew Michael Hall, and sister Elaine Bridges and husband Roger Raymond.

The family would like to thank the wonderful care-givers at Avita of Stroudwater for the loving and compassionate care they generously gave to Marilyn and her family over the past couple of years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a gift be made to the Alzheimer's Association https://alz.org/, Donate.  In the tribute section, please designate your donation in honor of Marilyn J. Palmer.  Or call 800.272.3900.   THANK YOU.