Laconia-----Miss Marilyn L. Bryant, 90, of 120 Belvidere Street, Lakeport, N.H. died on Friday, August 29, 2014 at St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a long illness.
Miss Bryant was born in Laconia on December 20, 1923, the daughter of the late Harry L. and Thelma K. (Pickering) Bryant. Following graduation from Laconia High School in 1941, she attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she majored in history and graduated in 1945 with Phi Beta kappa Honors.
For two years, she was a teacher of history and social studies at Foxcroft Academy, in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, and then returned to Colby where she was Secretary to the Dean of Women from 1947-1950. From 1950-1953, she was Assistant to the Dean of Students at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. and from 1953-59 she was Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of the Boys’ Clubs of Boston. From 1959-1985, she was Administrative Assistant to the Dean and then Director of Fiscal Affairs at Boston University School of Nursing.
In 1984, Miss Bryant was one of three recipients of the Distinguished Service Award presented annually by the Boston University Faculty Council.
During the 32 years that she lived in Boston, she was an active member of Old South Church in Boston and in 1974 became one of the first women deacons in that church.
Following her retirement from Boston University in 1985, she moved back to Lakeport to assist in the care of her mother who died in 2001 at the age of 100. Miss Bryant served as Treasurer of the United Baptist Church in Lakeport from 1986 until 1997 and as Financial Secretary of the church. She also served as Treasurer of the Lakeport Woman’s Club and as Treasurer of the Ready for Service Club of the United Baptist Church.
Miss Bryant loved cats. Her other interests included reading, exercising, knitting, gardening, house plants, classical music and opera.
Survivors include a sister, Mary E. “Betty” Goss, and her husband, Arnold S. Goss, of Lakeport; four nieces, Holly Goss Fish, Ellen Bryant Peters, Susan Bryant Nadeau and Anne Bryant Nute; two nephews, Steven Bryan Goss and Glenn S. Goss and six grandnieces and six grandnephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Harry L. Bryant, Jr.
In accordance with Miss Bryant’s wishes, there will be no calling hours.
Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in the family lot in Bayside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, friends who wish to do so may make donations in her memory to the United Baptist Church, 35 Park Street, Lakeport, NH 03246, the New Hampshire Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247 or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 9 Erie Drive, Ste 101, Natick, MA 01760.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with h the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.