SEARSPORT - SEARSPORT - Marion C. Welch, 88, formally of Searsport and most recently of Centerville, Mass., died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, with her loving family by her side. Born Oct. 21, 1920, in St. Francis, daughter of Gilbert and Agnes (Dubay) Thibodeau. In 1951, she married Ralph S. Welch, and in 1959 they moved to Searsport, where she lived until 2007 when she moved to Massachusetts to be with her daughter, Rhonda. Marion loved to knit, read, do crossword puzzles and bake, especially her famous molasses cookies. Her mittens and footies kept the hands and feet of a good portion of Searsport warm every winter. She is survived by her children, Lorraine Welch Shaw and her husband, Dana, of Alabama, Ralph R. Welch and his wife, Nancy, of Virginia and Rhonda S. Welch and her significant other, Billy Gifford, of Massachusetts, who had been her primary caregiver since May 2008. Marion also leaves three grandchildren, Laurie Joyner of California, Pamela Sereka of Texas and Shawn Needham of Indiana. She leaves five great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Marion often said she had some of the greatest neighbors, especially the Doliber family, who looked out for her and took care of her until she moved to Massachusetts In addition her parents, Marion was predeceased by her husband in 1992, three sisters and one brother. Family and friends will gather for visitation 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport, where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday with Father Joseph Korey, of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be in the spring at Gordon Cemetery, Searsport. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, New England Division, Inc., One Main Street, Suite 300 Topsham, ME 04086. Arrangements are under the direction of Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport.