Mari Ellen Spicer passed away quietly, “graduated” as she would say, on April 8, 2016, in Manassas, VA.

Mari was born in Portland, Oregon on Christmas Day in 1920. What a present for her parents, Frederick Hopper Spicer and Laura Lucille Spicer (nee Dolph). As their only daughter and youngest child, Mari started drawing at the age of 7 and continued this practice of creating an original design daily until she was 95. She also sang on the radio in Portland with her older brother Fred for several years. She married Vincent C. Sweeney on September 9, 1946. After her husband completed medical school he joined the U.S. Army. As an Army bride, she moved many times throughout the United States. In each location, she settled in and attended art schools honing her artistic skills. Mari’s greatest love was design. She drew and painted in watercolors, oils, chalks, acrylics, and charcoal. Later she perfected silk screen design, contemporary sculpture in plaster, wood and metal. Additionally, she spent several years creating ceramic pieces. Becoming allergic to paints, she improvised by transferring her designs to canvas in the form of needle point. In her spare time, she learned to make exquisite chocolate candies filling each with nuts, caramel and assorted delicacies for friends and family.

Mari was predeceased by her brother, Frederick D. Spicer, her granddaughter, Wendy Marie Terry and former husband, Dr. Vincent C. Sweeney. She is survived by her children, Carolyn Blanchard, Mary Osten, and Mark Sweeney and their spouses; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate Mari’s life will be held at Oakdale-Emory United Methodist Church, 3425 Emory Church Road, Olney, Maryland 20832, on May 28th at 2:00PM with reception to follow. She will be buried with her brother and parents in Portland, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, or the National Hospice Foundation, 1731 King Street, #200, Alexandria, VA 22314-2771.

Please sign the guest book at www.bakerpostfh.com

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