Mary M. Norris, an actress and director of community theater, died of Alzheimer's disease on June 25 at home in Norwich, Conn. The former East Hampton resident was 75, and had been ill for seven years.
She spent her early childhood in England, where she was born in Altrincham on June 18, 1945, to Kenneth MacKay and the former Elizabeth Connor. After the death of her mother, she and her father moved to Baltimore and later to East Hampton, where she graduated from East Hampton High School.
She worked at Sag Harbor Industries for a brief time before moving to Battle Creek, Mich., in 1963 to marry Charles C. Norris III, who was serving in the Navy. Mr. Norris survives.
The couple, who brought up two children, initially lived in North Chicago, and then, because of military assignments, relocated to Virginia Beach and later to Newport, R.I. After her husband returned from serving in the Vietnam War in 1972, the family settled in Norwich.
She became involved with civic and theater groups there, and spent several years as a drama coach at nearby Montville High School. She received awards from the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Conn., for her work as an actress and director, and from the high school for her staging of "Grease," "West Side Story," and many other productions.
She loved movies and music, and had been particularly fond of the singers Paul Anka and Frankie Valli. Proud of her English heritage, she enjoyed traveling to visit relatives who lived there and in South Africa, Seattle, and elsewhere.
She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Norwich and the nearby Preston City Congregational Church. She had sung in the choir, and, to raise money for the churches, would put on benefit shows.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Charles K. Norris of Norwich, a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Norris-Desrosier of Guilford, Conn., four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A graveside service, officiated by the Rev. Stanley White, was held at Maplewood Cemetery in Norwich on July 2.
