Veteran columnist Marilyn Rogers dies at 95

Marilyn Rogers

SKOWHEGAN – Marilyn Houston Rogers-Bull, 95, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at the Cedar Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, in Skow­hegan. Marilyn was born April 29, 1929, in the village of Flagstaff, the daughter of Doro­thy Steven Jones and Benjamin Houston and step-father Clarence Jones.

She graduated from Flagstaff High School soon to marry Frank Rogers. In 1949 Marilyn, Frank and son Mark moved to Solon when the residents of Flagstaff, Dead River and Bigelow towns were displaced by CMP as the Dead River Dam was built. Their family grew to include David, Peter and Mary.

Marilyn was very active in community affairs and organizations. She was a member of the Solon Congregational Church serving in numerous capacities for many years. Over the years, she wrote articles for The Somerset Gazette, The Somerset Reporter, The Morning Sentinel and The Town Line. She was well known for her opening line “Don’t worry be happy.” and closing with a bit of wisdom from her beloved cat Percy.

She was a 4-H leader, Extension member, Registrar of Voters for Solon. She was a barber and waitress, and became an expert in wallpaper hanging for many homes in town. Marilyn was a teacher’s aide for the Solon School. She was instrumental in forming what became the Solon Summer Recreation for all the children in town. Her future son-in-law remembers the sandwiches she made for the crew cleaning out the chicken barn at Lewis Adams farm every summer. She was a gifted and naturally taught artist and had won many awards for her paintings, and became the art teacher for the Skowhegan School of Adult Education. Over the decades she was the Solon Coolidge Library librarian. In her 50s and 60s Marilyn operated her own shop called Grams selling much of her knitting and crafts, but most of all she loved meeting people.

In 1995 her husband Frank died. In 2011, she married Leif Bull, of South Solon. They enjoyed traveling all around the state and eating in many of their favorite restaurants. In the last few years of her life dementia progressed to where she needed 24-hour care. The staff at Woodlands Memory Center, of Madison, and eventually Cedar Ridge did just that for Marilyn. From a remarkable family and village Marilyn grew up with strong and steadfast values that embraced community and faith. She was gifted to know and understand right from wrong, and good from bad. Her faith caused her to live bravely and courageously throughout her life. She was a blessing for all who knew and loved her.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Lief Bull; sons Mark Rogers and wife Karen, of Dunedin, Florida, David Rogers and wife Eleanor, of Falmouth, Peter Rogers and wife Sherry, of Solon; daughter Mary Walz and husband David, of North Anson; stepson Dean Bull and wife Cheryl, of Jasper, Georgia; stepdaughter Cindy Fitzmaurice and husband Allan, of Anson; and brothers Steven and Larry; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great- grandson.

She was predeceased by her brother Tom.

There will be a graveside service in the spring at the Flagstaff Cemetery, in Eustis.