Mary D. (Doyle) Thoen

Mary D. (Doyle) Thoen, 78, wife of William L. Thoen of Ipswich, died October 18, 2007 in the Caldwell Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following her extended illness.

Born in Salem March 28, 1929, daughter of the late James L. and Mary (Carney) Doyle, she was a 1947 graduate of Marblehead High School. She graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston and was commissioned into the US Navy as a WAVE officer. She was honorably discharged in 1953 as a Lieutenant.

In addition to devoting herself to her husband and children, she continued her education, and was awarded her Masters of Education degree from Salem State College in 1972. She then started her own successful knitting business, Clamshell Alley Knits, specializing in creating original knit good designs. An avid sailor, Mary was a member of the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club, where she sailed with her family. In 1974 she became a licensed Private Pilot, piloting the family airplane to many New England locations. During her flying career she was a member of the Ninety-Nines, a women pilot’s organization.

In addition to her husband she is survived by two sons, William Lawrence Thoen of Boulder, CO and James Joseph Thoen of Rowley, a daughter, Kathleen M. Sloss of Marblehead, six grandchildren and her brother, James L. Doyle of Salem.

A memorial Mass will be held Saturday November 3 at 9:00am in Our Lady of Hope Church, Pineswamp Road, Ipswich. Family and friends respectfully welcomed. Arrangements are by the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 101A First Ave, Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451-4990.