Margery M. Laws

Margery McCloskey Laws of Madison, known as Marky, died on August 29 at age 91, after a long illness. Marky Laws received a B.A. in English from Swarthmore College and a M.Ed. from Southern Connecticut State University. She taught generations of school children at what is now the Kathleen Ryerson Elementary School in North Madison, named for the long-time principal who mentored her and who she greatly admired. She herself was a celebrated teacher, who was honored by her colleagues on her retirement in 1990.

She was a lover of the classic popular and jazz music of the 1930s through the 50s. She amassed a substantial record collection, and a huge collection of sheet music. She was also a fan of mystery novels, notably the works of Rex Stout, Agatha Christie, P.D. James and many others; and the English humorist P.D. Wodehouse.

She is survived by a son, Michael Barton (Bart) Laws of Scotland, Connecticut; a daughter Connie of Manhattan and her partner Paul Markey; a son Thomas Abbot of Moodus and his wife Meg Pier; and nieces Jennifer Fallon of Belmont, Massachusetts and her husband Richard; and Margery (Meg) Wilber of Middlefield and her husband Richard (Pic). She is also survived 4 by great nieces and nephews and 12 great-grand nieces and nephews. Her husband of 58 years, Michael, a long-time member of the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company, passed away in 2011.

In lieu of flowers, her children recommend a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Association, or Oxfam America.