DEXTER- Marguerite Ellen Robertson Sherburne, 95, passed away peacefully on Christmas morning, December 25, 2012, at Dexter Health Care, after declining health for the last few years. She was cherished and dearly loved by all of her family and friends and is sorely missed.

She was born in Hartland, May 29, 1917, the daughter of Earle O. Robertson and Ruth (Finson) Robertson Bubar.

She fell in love with and married Weston R. Sherburne in 1941, moving into Weston's great grandfather's farm on Ripley Road in Dexter where she lived for the next 71 years, raising five children. Maggie, as she was known to most people, dearly loved to have family and friends around her. Her home was always open and she hosted frequent large dinners for her family and friends, all sitting around her table in the large farm kitchen, laughing, telling stories and playing cards. She was a quintessential farm cook, serving baked beans and biscuits on Saturday evenings, frying up batches of donuts and baking her special coffee bars. She was certain of the inherent goodness of dairy food, believing that butter and cream made everything better.

She arranged for and bought property on Great Moose Pond in Hartland, where Weston built her a summer cottage. When possible she spent her summers there, indulging in her favorite activities of boating and fishing and continuing to host family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening, knitting, sewing, and other crafts in her free time.

Marguerite was an active farm wife, driving the tractor and trucks, milking cows and doing all those farm tasks that enabled her and her husband to maintain the farm. Even as a young woman she took over as the family matriarch, embracing and holding together both her own and her husband's families together, caring for her elderly mother-in-law, other elderly live-in boarders and the remaining members of her family. Even decades later, she was diligent in remembering her loved ones that had passed on, planting flowers in their memory.

Marguerite had a very active life, working off the farm as well. She was crew leader during harvest at Snow Flake Canning Company for three years, production line leader seasonally for five years and worked on the original crew at Dexter Shoe Company from 1956-68.

She was an active member of the First Baptist Church since the 1940's. She was a member of the Couples' Club, put on many suppers and luncheons at the church, taught Sunday School, performed White Cross work and was a member of the Elizabeth Towle Guild. She and her husband loved being a part of the fellowship and lived out their faith in various ways. She founded the Heart of Maine 4-H Club in 1950. She was a Grange member for more than 75 years and remained a member of the Dexter Women's Literary Club. Marguerite was a member in the Maine Cooperative Extension, serving as the President of Maine Women's Extension in the 1980's. During this time she traveled to Germany as state representative to the World Extension Congress.

She and Weston were recognized in 1971 by Northeast Agriculture Magazine as Farm Family of the Year. At that time, she was helping to run a five generation family farm with 70 milking cows and 150 head of cattle. She and her husband were active in the County Farm Bureau. She was Chairperson of Penobscot County Women's Committee and a member of the State Farm Bureau Women's Committee.

When her husband Weston was in the Maine House of Representatives, she accompanied him to the State Legislature for 12 years and was one of the "Balcony Beauties." Marguerite, after retirement, became a "snow bird" and organized entertainment activities at Settlers' Rest Park in Zephyr Hills, Florida.

Marguerite was loved by her five children, Beverly and her husband, Ronald Watson of Cambridge, Frances and her husband, John Carroll of Westford, MA, Bonnie and her husband, Paul Hayward of Blairsville, GA, Joseph (now deceased) and his wife, Amanda Sherburne of Dexter, and Fred and his wife, Carol Sherburne of Dexter. She had 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents she had two brothers, Gerald Robertson and Erlfred Robertson (now deceased) of St. Albans, ME. She also had multiple cousins, one of which survived her, Maxine Furbush of Clive, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Weston Sherburne, who passed away in 1990; her son, Joseph Sherburne who died in 2008; and a brother, Erlfred Robertson in 1944.

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church,in Dexter, 1PM, Saturday, December 29, 2012. Spring burial will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 573, Dexter, ME 04930 or The Abbott Memorial Library, 1 Church St., Dexter, ME 04930.

Arrangements by Crosby & Neal, Dexter.