Title	Mrs.
Last Name	Garland
First Name	Mary
Middle Name
Maiden Name	Soule
Nick Name	Gram
Place of Birth	Albion, ME
Date of Birth	1845-02-04
Place of Death	Dexter, ME
Date of Death	1950-05-01
Publication	The Eastern Gazette 5-4-1950, p.1 & 5
Obituary	HOLD FUNERAL FOR "GRAM" GARLAND, 105 Dexter's oldest citizen, Mrs. Mary Garland, 105, died Monday at the local hospital after being a patient there since last November. It is thought that she was the oldest woman resident of Maine. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Crosby funeral home with the Rev. A. Allan Brough of the First Baptist Church officiating. Bearers were three grandsons, Carl Garland of Corinna; Aubrey Garland, Silver's Mills; Bernard Pearl of Newport; and Weston Sherburne of Dexter, with whom Mrs. Garland made her home for a time. Interment will be at Mt. Pleasant cemetery. "Gram" Garland, as she was known to a host of relatives and friends, was born in Albion Feb. 4, 1845, the youngest of 11 children of William and Jase (Taylor) Soule. While living in Bradford, she became engaged to Andrew Garland, and when he returned from the Civil Wasr with a wound they were married. While following his trade as a mason, at various times the family lived in Boston, St. Johns, N. B., Caribou, Dover-Foxcroft, Milo and Dexter. Mr. Garland died about 45 years ago. Mrs. Garland had many vivid memories of the 19th century and well remembered the sadness in her family at the news of Lincoln's assassination. With the exception of the last few years of her life she maintained her interest in handwork, spending much of her time knitting, crocheting, embroidering, making patchwork and braided rugs. A member of the First Baptist Church of Dexter for over 50 years, she attended regularly as long as able. She served as chaplain of Dexter Grange for 30 years, and on the afternoon of her 99th birthday was presented with the Golden Sheaf certificate denoting 50 years membership in the Grange. She was a member of the Three-Quarter Century Club, and at one time a member of Wassookeag Chapter No. 44, OES, and H. F. Safford Woman's Relief Corps. On her 102nd birthday Mrs. Garland was serenaded by the N. H. Fay High School band at the Sherburne home, a neighbor having heard her express a wish to hear band music once again. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Arthur Page, of Dexter, with whom she lived; and two sons, Everett of Athens and Herbert of Milo; 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 15 great great-grandchildren.