Mary Lua '"Sis"' Markham

Mary Gould Markham, known by her friends as Sis and her family as Mugga, died peacefully on January 9, 2018, in Utica, NY, at the age of 89. Mary Lua Gould was born on April 15, 1928, in Lyons Falls, NY, to Gordon H. P. Gould and Helen Bowman Gould. She was educated at Lyons Falls schools, The Knox School, Skidmore College, and the Katharine Gibbs School. She married Bruce S. Markham on August 27, 1949, and they lived in Ithaca and Lyons Falls before settling in 1954 in Rome, where they raised their four daughters. In 1971 they moved to Bruces ancestral home in Constableville, NY. Upon his 1982 retirement from the State of New York they relocated to Florida, and became residents there after purchasing a home in Englewood. They also began to travel extensively, visiting many countries in Europe, Asia, South Asia, Africa, and South America, as well as touring Alaska and the American West. During her lifetime Sis was involved in many civic organizations in Rome, Lewis County, and Englewood, including the American Red Cross, Rome Memorial Hospitals Juniper Twig, the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, Hospice of Southwest Florida, and the public libraries in Englewood and at Brantingham Lake in Lewis County, where she had spent her summers since childhood. She served on the board of trustees of the Lewis County General Hospital, and attended Presbyterian churches in Lyons Falls, Rome, and Englewood. Sis will be remembered for her great love of her camp at Brantingham and of Lewis County history; she especially enjoyed music, movies, skiing, and bridge. She cherished her many friends in Englewood, Lewis County, Rome, and at Preswick Glen. She is survived by her daughters Sandra J. Markham of Hamden, CT; Jan E. Markham and son-in-law John Kasper of Kennett Square, PA; and Nancy Markham Wooster and son-in-law John Wooster of Glenmont, NY; her granddaughters Maren M. Kasper of Washington, DC, and Sarah M. Wooster of Las Vegas, NV; and grandsons John M. Kasper of Philadelphia, PA, and Samuel B. Wooster of Burlington, VT. She is also survived by her sister Nancy Gould Carr of New York, NY, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, daughter Deborah H. Markham, sister Jane Gould Allen, and brothers H. Peter Gould and Gene B. Gould. A celebration of her life will be held on April 14 at 11:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church, 108 West Court St., Rome. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Constableville Rural Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 13, Constableville, NY 13325, or the Forest Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 326, Lyons Falls, NY 13368.