Margery Orem

Margery Howard Orem of Kennebunkport, Maine and Potomac, Maryland passed peacefully October 30, 2018 at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Captain John B. Orem, Jr, USN Retired, sons John H. Orem (Vicki) and William D. Orem (Karen), daughter Martha Orem Merz (Bill), and 8 grandchildren. She is predeceased by her sister, Diana B. Howard of Portland, Maine.

Margery was born in Bronxville, NY on February 27th, 1929 to John Stanley Howard and Grace Boothby Howard. She graduated from Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine in 1946 and the University of Chicago in 1949. She worked in New York and Boston as an editor and executive secretary until her marriage in 1955 to John, a Naval Officer studying at MIT. The consummate Navy wife, Margery moved around the world with her husband and three children, including stays in Long Beach, Bremerton, two tours in Japan, Hawaii, and Washington, DC. As her children grew she went back to work as a paralegal, and then attended Delaware Law School where she focused on property law. She became a licensed realtor. Margery gave her time generously to many organizations. She was very active in the military community, advocating for military families through her work with National Military Family Association (NMFA). She was also a longtime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

After John’s retirement, Margery and John settled in Margery’s family home built by her great grandfather in Kennebunk, Maine. Margery volunteered at the Kennebunkport Historical Society, the Brick Store Museum, and served in various positions in the community. She and John travelled extensively, including trips to the United Kingdom, Alaska, Spain, Guam, Australia, and Canada. Margery enjoyed genealogy research, was an accomplished painter, and studied Japanese painting and language. Margery and John moved to Arlington, Virginia in 2012 to be close to family.

Her greatest accomplishments were the love and support she selflessly gave her husband, the values she instilled in her children and her grandchildren, and the positive contributions to her communities over the course of many years.

An interment ceremony will be held in Kennebunk at a later date.

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