MaryEllen Collins, of Buxton, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 26, 1965, in Portland, Maine, to William A. Collins Sr. and Ethel Foshay Collins.

MaryEllen was proud to grow up in Scarborough and graduated from Scarborough High School in 1984. She graduated from cosmetology school and went on to work as a talented hairdresser for many years before becoming a mother. Throughout her life, she held many different roles, including owning her own cleaning business. She was deeply involved in her daughters’ Little League and activities and donated countless hours to her community, organizing benefits and raising money for families in need.

MaryEllen was a talented artist who loved the holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween. Her bright and bubbly personality made it easy for her to create a safe place for countless of her children’s friends. She was often called a second mom, and she loved all of those kids as if they were her own.

MaryEllen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her two daughters were her greatest pride and joy, and family was at the heart of everything she did. She will be remembered for her strength, humor, determination, and generous spirit, as well as her lifelong love of horses and horse racing.

Of all the roles she held throughout her life, being a mother was the one she cherished most. Her daughters, Mariah Collins Harrison and Haley Maureen Harrison, were her biggest and proudest accomplishment. They were her heart, her greatest joy, and the people she loved more than anything in this world. She poured her love into them, stood beside them through every season of life, and never stopped being their biggest supporter. Being their mom was something she was endlessly proud of, and her daughters will forever carry the love she gave them.

MaryEllen shared a life with her beloved husband, Michael “Mike” Stevenson, whom she loved deeply and built a life alongside. Together, they created not only a family, but a life built around the things they loved most. One of those passions was horse racing, which became an important part of their lives. MaryEllen and Mike dedicated countless hours to their horses and racing business. It was more than a business—it was a way of life, a passion, and the source of many wonderful memories.

She is survived by her mother, Ethel Collins; her husband, Michael “Mike” Stevenson; her daughters, Mariah Harrison (Alyssa) and Haley Harrison (Brendan); her granddaughter, Tracy Harrison; her siblings, Bob Collins, Laurie Hanson, and Don Collins; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who loved her dearly.

She was predeceased by her father, William A. Collins Sr.; her brother, William Collins Jr.; her stepdaughter and son-in-law, Josephine and Chuck Flaherty; her stepson, Thomas Harrison; her granddaughter, Carllee May Flaherty; her niece, Jessica Schlosser; and her nephew, William A. Austin.

MaryEllen leaves behind a lifetime of love, memories, and people whose lives were made better simply by knowing her. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.