Marion Foote Carrington

Marion Foote Carrington, of Lee, MA, 99 years old, passed away on 3/4/2022 at Berkshire Medical Center (just 3 weeks before her 100th Birthday)

Born at her home, in Lee, MA, on March 25, 1922, Marion was the daughter of the late Leon Charles Winthrop Foote and the late Olga Mary Merwin Renz Foote. She also was the granddaughter of the late Charles Nelson Foote and the late Alice Bell Lathrop Foote.

Marion was a descendent of the Foote family who were among the first settlers to establish a farm and live in Lee, MA in 1776. The present house, built in 1815 on the original site, was her birthplace and life-long residence. The farm was called Monte Vista for its views of the surrounding mountains. Also, her early Foote relatives were founding members of the first “Lee Meeting House” built in 1778, now, the First Congregational Church of Lee which is located at 25 Park Place, Lee, MA.

She attended Lee Schools and was an Honor student, graduating from Lee High School, class of 1939. She was awarded the Cottage Memorial Scholarship, which was awarded to a deserving 4-H member in a New England state. The award, made by the education committee of the New England Farm and Garden Association, consisted of first-year expenses at Massachusetts State College (aka University of Massachusetts). She attended the University of Massachusetts from 1940 – 1941.

Marion was very active in 4-H programs, completing 13 projects in eight years of 4-H work, taking four years of clothing, four years of gardening, three years of dairy and one year of canning. She was a county dress winner, attended Eastern States Dairy Camp, and was prominent in 4-H Service Club activities. Marion was a delegate to the American Youth Foundation Camp in Michigan and also served as a junior counselor at County 4-H Camp. She held offices in the County 4-H Dairy Association, the County 4-H Leader’s Association and the Lee 4-H committee. She was also a clothing and cooking 4-H club leader in Lee.

In 1936, Marion was one of 175 delegates who attended the 14th annual 4-H Club camp in Washington, D.C. Also in 1936, she established a small, profitable egg route after her parents had given her 10 white Leg-horn pullets.

The big hurricane of 1938 struck New England while she was attending the Eastern States Exposition, in Springfield, MA on the very day she was to show her prize heifer. She said, “everyone was evacuated; it was very exciting – the boys led the animals to safety across the bridge in Agawam”. Marion made many friends through 4-H.

Later in her life, she started a 4-H cooking club and held meetings at her house weekly to teach her daughter and many other young girls how to cook. She also performed judging duties of exhibits at Berkshire County 4-H Fairs.

Marion was a Census taker for the Town of Lee, MA for a number of years. Marion also worked at the England Brothers Store in Pittsfield during the Christmas season.

She met her husband, Frank Ward Carrington, through her involvement in 4-H work. They were married March 7, 1942. As a young man coming back home after serving in World War II, he wanted to be a farmer and the Foote farm was a perfect place for the newlyweds to live, work and raise their family. Together they had a dairy farm and grew corn and various vegetables to sell at a stand in front of their house. A large sign next to the stand prominently displayed “Marion’s Famous Sweet Corn”. After Mr. Carrington died in a tractor accident June 17, 1991, Marion continued the Farm Stand until she was in her late 80’s.

Marion was a member of the First Congregational Church of Lee, and was very active in the life of the church serving on various committees. She was the oldest member of the church at the time of her passing.

Marion leaves her son, David Foote Carrington and her daughter, Ellen Foote Krupka, both of Lee, MA; She also leaves her grandchildren, David Frank Carrington, New Jersey, Randi Medici (Albert), Scituate, Rhode Island, Gregory Krupka (Elizabeth), Studio City, CA and Lauren Thomas (Gordy), Sudbury, MA. She also leaves five great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews (Linda, Mark, Ray, Carol), her cousins (John Gordon, Gordon Gregory, Kathleen Burgess, Judy Quakenbush), and Marion McCarthy.

Marion was predeceased by her husband, Frank Ward Carrington (June 17, 1991), her grandson, Peter Brian Krupka, (May 3, 2009), her father, Leon Charles Foote (July 10, 1947), and her mother, Olga Renz Foote, (January 1, 2000).

Marion’s family would like to thank the staff at Mt. Carmel Care Center in Lenox, MA for their very compassionate and wonderful care.

A memorial service for Marion Foote Carrington, who passed away on 3/4/2022, will be held at the First Congregational Church of Lee, 25 Park Place, Lee, MA at 11:00 a.m. on 3/25/2022 (which would have been her 100th Birthday). Rev. Dr. Jay Terbush will officiate. A reception will follow in the Congregational Church Community Room. Burial will take place in the Fairmount Cemetery, Lee, MA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the First Congregational Church of Lee, PO Box 395, Lee, MA 01238-0395.