Michael J. Markham

Dracut - Michael J. Markham, Jr., a Dracut resident, the beloved husband of Shirley M. (Martin) Markham with whom he had been married for 38 years, died Thursday June 26, 2008, at the Lowell General Hospital.
Michael was born in Lowell on February 15, 1937, a son of the late Michael J. and Blanche M. (Gumbris) Markham.
A graduate of Dracut High School, and the former Lowell Technological Institute with a degree in plastics engineering.
He retired from the Grace Specialty Polymers Division of W.R. Grace & Co. in Lexington as a senior chemist. Prior employment was at Converse Rubber Company Malden and Andover, and at the Electronized Chemical Co. in Burlington.
Michael was an avid horseracing fan and he enjoyed the local sports teams but, what he cherished most was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Surviving him besides his wife are a son and daughter in law, James M. and Donna (Cole) Martin of Dracut; four daughters and three sons in law, Susan and Richard Degan of Novato, CA, Janet and Julio Gonzalez of Methuen, Pamela Calzini of Lowell, Debra and Ken Jackson of Dracut; a brother and sister in law, David and Theresa Markham of Dracut; ten grandchildren, Ryan and Jenna Degan, Juliana and Jordan Gonzalez, David and Michael Eddy, Jessica and Amanda Jackson, James M. II and Erica Martin; and 4 great grandchildren.