Jean MacCarthy Marshall (1937-2026)

Freedom—July 27, 2026—Jean Marshall passed away on July 12 at her home on Berry Bay. She and her husband, Ian, retired to the lake in 2011, building a home next door to her sisters, Ossipee Lake Alliance board members Susan Marks and Roberta MacCarthy.

Berry Bay was the final stop of a peripatetic life that took Jean and Ian and their three children from Scotland to Greece to Botswana, and then to Maine’s Southwest Harbor.

During those years, Ian worked as an architect and maritime artist while Jean focused on community planning. Her expertise—she held a Master’s degree from MIT—and her professional but practical approach to projects left a wide international community of collaborators and friends.

Having spent summers in Freedom since her youth, Jean loved the town and its history. After retiring, she was active in the Berry Bay Association, the Freedom Heritage Commission, the Freedom Planning Board, the Freedom Historical Society, and the Lakes Region Planning Commission.

A skilled researcher, she helped Ossipee Lake Alliance chronicle the history of the Ossipee River Dam. She also documented the little known story of Ossipee Lake Natural Area, work that helped convince State officials to protect that preserve from development.

This spring she learned that she and her sisters would be recognized for their contributions to Freedom by being named Grand Marshals of this year’s Old Home Week parade.

Jean’s husband, Ian, died in 2016. She is survived by their children, Jessie, Rebecca and Paxton, and three grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up in her name at Mountaintop Music, a place of joy for Jean where she played violin in the orchestra and delighted in having her grandchildren participate in music during summers.

Donations may be made at this link. Write “Donation in memory of Jean Marshall” under “Comments.”