Marilyn Bean (May 24, 1923 - April 28, 2010), born Marilyn Lelia Clark, was a representational or realistic painting artist, specializing in water colors. Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, she graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1941. She was the daughter of Grace and Donald Clark. She worked for a short time as a telephone operator before marrying Dr. H. Richard (Dick) Bean on Nov. 14, 1943. She and Dick moved to Whitefield, N.H., where Dr. Bean started a very successful medical practice, and where they began their family. After raising five children, she began taking art lessons from Professor Lajos Matcolcsy in 1957, and found her passion. She spent the next four decades perfecting her skill. She won numerous awards, and exhibited her work at many galleries throughout Maine and New England. She took part in the Portland Sidewalk Show each year as well as Art in the Park in South Portland and the Sidewalk Art Show in Norway. In 1988, she was commissioned to paint a large wall mural at the Norway Town Hall depicting Main Street in Norway back in the 19th century. It was based on an actual photograph taken during that time period. She was a longtime parishioner at St. Catherine's in Norway. At one time, she refurbished the Stations of the Cross for the church. She opened three studios, one in Portland, the second in Lewiston, and the third in Norway, within which she taught countless students. She was also co-founder of the Western Maine Art Group and served as its president for many years. She is survived by one sister, Margaret Belanger of Silver Springs, Md.; her five children, Dr. Robert Bean of Norway, Tricia Smith of Brunswick, Susie Winslow of Portland, Dr. Alan Bean of Harrison and Thomas Bean of Manchester; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; as well as countless nieces and nephews.