IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of August 31, 2017

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, have you had a ‘Ma’ in your life? No, I’m not talking about your mother, I’m wondering if you have had a ‘Ma’ sometime during your life. Yes, WALLS, we’ve had a ‘Ma’ in our family and when I sat and talked with Elaine Cannell, while we were waiting for her other guests to arrive, I learned that Ma had been at her house, but not for as long as we had her in our family.

Now, WALLS, I’m not going to write her real name, because she was always ‘Ma’ to me. It all started when housework became too much for my mémère, so my mom got us ‘Ma’.

Yes, Ma even got some things done as I was preparing for Colby Junior College, in New London, New Hampshire. (Yes, it is Colby-Sawyer College now, and I’ll write about ‘why’ in another issue.) Back to ‘Ma’ and, yes, she was proud of her own family. Her husband, Carrol, worked faithfully for the Skowhegan Road Department.

Oh, you have asked why she was ‘Ma’ to all our family. Well, she not only cleaned our house at 29 Chestnut Street once a week, but she was definitely one of our family. In fact, after college, I married and she was ‘Ma’ when my husband and I moved back to Maine with the business which we had started in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, so she cleaned our house in East Madison, as I worked at Z.D.Wire.

Then, when my marriage to Joe Denis became history and I later married Lew, ‘Ma’ came to our rescue when she agreed to care for my grandson who was born in Alaska and his mother said she wanted him to grow up in Maine. Oh, she was a truly wonderful mother but followed the wishes of her mother and father who called every day to remind her of her obligation. (Yes, Eskimo custom was that the youngest would care for the elder parents.) So our grandson was cared for by ‘Ma’ while Nana went to work every day. Yes, she was always ‘Ma’ to Danny, too.

‘Ma’s life has passed, but she is still ‘Ma’ to all of us. Yes, WALLS, ‘Ma’ will forever be a part of the Valliere, Denis, Ouilette memories.

Oh, WALLS, there are so many reasons for memories having popped up in our minds. We had a gathering of friends and, yes, schoolmates at Elaine’s house, Evalyn Bowman brought her two classmates from Vermont who were visiting her. Betsy Hall and I had been in the same class at Lincoln School on Leavitt Street and Elizabeth (was Rodden) lives in East Madison. And, know what, WALLS? Surely our faithful readers who attended school with Betsy and Elizabeth will say: “I remember them!” Yes, faithful readers, there is so much in our ‘memories’ of our younger years. Enjoy! That is what age is for!

I’m Just Curious: Who is more superstitious?

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by Debbie Walker

Remember those books I told you I bought in the south, one was titled Southern Superstitions. I decided I would give you some of the New England and some of the Southern Superstitions. Save this column because next week will be the southern version of the subject! Then you can compare. It’s up to you to figure who is more superstitious.

I believe the following New England information comes from the New England Historical Society and I took the license to edit the information for this column. The Town Line is not responsible for my choice.

New England Puritans were a superstitious lot who believed luck ruled their lives. They took measures to ward off bad luck, attract good luck and change their luck from bad to good. One of their odder customs was to place old shoes in the walls of a house wards off evil. (Wish I had read that one before we closed up the walls in this house, we could have used a little more good luck!)

  • Dropping bread and butter with the butter side downs brings bad luck. (Who wants to eat dirty bread?)
  • Rock an empty chair and you will have bad luck. (Never heard the bad luck but I knew we weren’t supposed to rock that chair empty!)
  • Tripping on something is a sign of bad luck. The remedy is to walk over it again. If you’ve tripped on a stone, go back and touch it. (Since I have lost most of my balance control there is a lot to that tripping business!)
  • If you put on an apron inside out, wear it that way or your luck will change. (Maybe that is why so many homes don’t have any aprons anymore!)
  • If you have bad luck playing cards, get up and move around your chair. Or blow on your cards to change your luck. (You could just give up and say goodnight!)
  • See a pin and let it lie, come to sorrow by and by.
  • Finding a penny is surer to bring you good luck than anything else.
  • It is good luck to fall up a hill.
  • If a spider spins down from the ceiling toward you, it will bring good luck.
  • If you move to a new home, don’t bring the cat with you. It will bring bad luck.
  • If you see a cat sitting with her tail to the fire, expect bad luck.
  • If a strange dog or cat comes to live with you, it will bring good luck. A black cat will bring its owner good luck.

I’m just curious if you remember if you’d missed an issue of The Town Line and you have a computer you can look up the week you missed. So…hold your decisions until you read the southern version. Keep in mind the New England Superstitions has a sailor/fisherman version of their own! Maybe we will look at those one day. In the meantime send any questions or comments to dwdaffy@yahoo.com.

REVIEWS: Soprano: Teresa Stich-Randall; Composer: Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller; Author: Evan Eisenberg

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Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates

Teresa Stich-Randall

Preiser 93458, CD, recorded July 31st, 1956.

Teresa Stich-Randall

Born and raised in Connecticut, Teresa Stich-Randall (1927-2007) had a major career of over 30 years, starting in the U.S. but mainly centered in Europe, as a soprano performing opera, and other forms of vocal classical music. To me, her fame is well deserved, she being one of a handful of sopranos who provide genuine pleasure through their recordings – because she avoids the cloying vibrato that turns, not only sopranos, but mezzos, altos, tenors, baritones and basses into very painful listening ordeals. She conveys the beauty in what she sings, rather than indulging in being a histrionic nimcompoop in how she sings!

The above CD is a collection of lieder, or classical songs by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Richard Strauss and Debussy, 21 in all and each one a gem. She collaborates with the exceptionally phenomenal conductor, Hans Rosbaud (1895-1962), who swaps his conducting baton for the piano, performs with once-in-a-lifetime musicianship, sensitivity and beauty and leaves me wondering why he didn’t play the keyboard much more often. I posted Brahms’s Mondnacht on my Facebook page from YouTube, which should still have it !

A couple of little tidbits – Stich-Randall was a holy terror about exact punctuality for her voice lessons while Rosbaud mastered five instruments and relaxed by reading ancient and modern classics, in the original language.

Fats Waller

1935; Classics 746, CD.

Fats Waller

The phenomenal Fats Waller (1904-1943) was a masterful composer, orchestra leader, classical and jazz organist, pianist and one very entertaining singer. The 22 shellacs on this CD are all first class, with not a single dud among them, and remastered skillfully.

Evan Eisenberg

The Recording Angel
Penguin, 1987, 256 pages.

Evan Eisenberg

I had high hopes for this book when I forked over four bucks for it some months back. Superficial dipping into it led me to a story about Clarence, who collects records while living just barely on $270 a month and they consume his house with only minimal living space.

Such stories are few. Eisenberg devotes most of the book discussing how records have changed the way we listen to, and relate to, music. But he uses endless quotes from, and paraphrasing of Plato, Aristotle, Schopenhauer, etc., to discuss the endless byways of music for several centuries in an overblown manner that makes this book tiresome most of the time as a reading experience.

But it got glowing reviews from many critics.

Bicentennial committee gears up for China’s 200th birthday

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The old Weeks Mills one-room schoolhouse, built in 1860 — newly upgraded with Wifi and electricity!

by Eric W. Austin

Funny how you can spend half your life in a place and still discover something new, I think, as I head down Old Weeks Mills Road to a meeting with China’s Bicentennial Committee.

The meeting is being held in the old Weeks Mills one-room schoolhouse.

Blue lights blink at me as I enter: a modem plugged into the wall just inside. It seems out of place in such an historic setting. The building was restored seven years ago and gleams with clean, whitewashed walls and dark, stained-wood floors.

Wifi and electricity are two modern conveniences that Neil Farrington, China selectman and local history enthusiast, hopes will encourage the next generation to use the building.

“It’s the perfect place for tutoring or to do homework,” he tells me as we wait for the other committee members to arrive.

He’s right. It sounds like a library in here. I feel compelled to use my inside voice.

We’re soon joined by Betty Glidden, who attended class in this very schoolhouse until the eighth grade, her husband Sherwood, and Bob Bennett, a retired history teacher who taught at Erskine Academy, in South China.

The committee has been tasked with planning celebrations for China’s 200th anniversary next year. The talk turns to the many unknown – and unnoticed – places of historical interest in China and the surrounding areas.

“We once had more than 20 schoolhouses just like this one in the areas of China, Weeks Mills and Branch Mills alone,” says Neil. “Imagine that!”

“And there are a ton of little cemeteries all over the place,” I say. “I bet they each have a story to tell.”

“Twenty-eight,” Neil supplies. “Maybe more.”

Neil is big on getting the community involved. Everybody agrees. Bob Bennett tells us how he encouraged his students to conduct interviews to add color to their term papers. Heads nod. China has a rich, deep history, but it’s locked away in the minds of its older citizens and hidden in quiet corners of the landscape.

I pipe up and offer to interview some of our senior residents and share their unique experiences with readers of The Town Line.

“Before they’re lost forever,” says Bob. The prospect is sobering for this little group of history buffs.

A reverence settles over us as we shuffle out of the little schoolhouse. There’s something about considering the vastness of history: you get the sense both of your own insignificance and yet also of our eternal connection to what has gone before.

Do you know someone with a story to tell? Contact The Town Line at townline@fairpoint.net or visit our contact page !

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of August 31, 2017

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Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

On August 13th Betty Lightbody, of North Anson, was honored with a wonderful 90th birthday party put on by her daughter, Carol Oliver. There were 25 family members present and a total of 57 friends and family who were there on this special day, some coming from far away places such as North Dakota (where Carol lives), Colorado, Oregon and North Carolina.

Betty said she was so pleased to see so many of her nieces and nephews who she doesn’t see very often, along with her children and many friends. In Betty’s words, “It was unreal to have so many show up!” She also commented on “All the lovely food.”

Carol and her husband Guy had traveled from North Dakota. Betty’s grandson, Jeremy Rogers and his family also came from North Dakota and spent a week in North Anson. Again in Betty’s words, “They came all that way. It was a great gathering!”

Then on August 15, which was Betty’s actual birthday, 25 family members honored her again with their presence and another smaller get-together. My congratulation and best wishes to you Betty, on your wonderful 90th birthday celebrations.

The September 11 Embden Historical Society meeting has been canceled. Many of the members are involved in putting on a huge luncheon for over 400 bikers from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine at the Embden Community Center. This is a major undertaking. The annual meeting, election of officers and committee reports will be given at the October 9 meeting. There will also be an Antique Show & Tell at that meeting.

The Country Sunday/Open Mic has been canceled for September 10th. The next Country Sunday will be September 24th and then on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

My many, many thanks go out to Carol Dolan for her faithful sharing of this news with us, it is very greatly appreciated.

And now from the First Congregational Church of North Anson’s bulletin: The Fellowship Committee is selling calendar raffle tickets again this year to benefit a church mission trip.

On August 31, at 6:30 p.m., the first choir rehearsal for the 2017-2018 church year will be held at the church. On September 1, 2, and 3, the annual Church Camping Trip at Cathedral Pines, in Eustis; Sunday Morning Worship in the Pines at 11 a.m. and church picnic to follow. Sundays starting on September 10, at 9 a.m., Adult and Teen Sunday School; 10 a.m. Children’s Sunday School during the worship service; 6 – 7 p.m. Pilgrim Fellowship; Tuesday’s starting on September 12, at 6 p.m., Yarn etc. Fellowship; Wednesday starting on September 13, at 5:30 p.m., Weekly Soup and Evening Devotional; Thursdays starting on September 14, at 11:30 a.m., Bible Study at the Parsonage, Choir Rehearsal at 6:45 p.m., and September 16 at 8 a.m., Women’s Devotional and Coffee.

I realize this is lots of dates into September, but the way time flies, I thought if you were interested in any of these things, you could cut out this information.

And now for Percy’s memoir, Cultivating Friends: Sow a seed of praise today, Plant a kindness seed; Listen to a troubled friend, Help someone in need. Compliment a weary soul Too fatigued to try; Shine forth rays of hope on all, Comfort those who cry. Scatter deeds of love each day, Plant each row with care; Sprinkle joy along your way, Soak each one in prayer. Ask the Lord to bless each one, And one day you’ll reap A harvestful of loving friends To cherish and to keep. (words by Connie Hinnen.)

Percy collected many great friends when he was alive and helping me with this column. One day recently Lief and I were up to the Dam Diner, and one of Percy’s friends recognized me from the picture by this column and greeted me with a big hug! I had no idea who she was, but she introduced herself and said how much she had loved his wise words, and now his memoirs. It made my day! He was a great cat and helped me so much.

Track teams capture state crowns

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Winslow summer track and field 13-14 year old 4×100 boys team won the state title recently. From left to right, Gabe Katz, Trey Goodwin and Levi Olin. Absent from photo is Riley Toner. Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff

Winslow summer track and field 11-12 year old 4×100 girls team won the state title recently. From left to right, Allie Kimball, Kaylyn Bourque, Madisyn Niles and Paige Goodwin. Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Bees and wasps – stinging insect activities continue into the fall

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Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee

With the relatively dry summer we have experienced in 2017, you have probably noticed an increase in activity by bees and wasps over recent weeks. That is typical of a rainless period as bees are now out in search of moisture of any kind to continue their work at the respective hives.

Bee

Bees, wasps, and hornets – commonly referred to as “stinging insects” – continue to be active into the late summer and early autumn months in the northeast, despite the majority of nest and hive activity taking place earlier in the year. As a result, prevention techniques are still important for individuals and families looking to avoid painful stings.

“There are thousands of different species of bees, wasps, and hornets worldwide and as many as 200 that may be found in New England,” said Mike Peaslee, technical manager and associate certified entomologist at Modern Pest Services, a QualityPro company, recognized as such by the National Pest Management Association, serving Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. “They all have different functions and jobs within their own colonies so some are more active or prevalent than others as the days start to get cooler. But, as a whole, they are still around and still working hard, which can be problematic for people looking to avoid getting stung.”

Wasp

Among the reasons there may be stinging insect activity without any visible nest is because 70 percent of the 20,000 bee species actually nest underground. Wasps also have some ground-nesting species like Digger Wasps and Yellow Jackets. As the final days of summer draw near and the cooler days of autumn approach, sweet foods like loose, rotting apples on the ground can be a significant attractor of stinging insects to homeowners’ yards.

“People with apple trees or crab apple trees who don’t clean up loose fruit on the ground can see a bigger problem in their yard than others,” said Peaslee. “The insects will find a significant source of food and because the days are getting shorter, honeybees know they have to gather more food and nectar to feed their colony throughout the winter. That makes autumn a very important time of the year for these insects to prepare for the colder months.”

New England is home to several different types of bees and wasps, including Bald Faced Hornets, Carpenter Bees, Paper Wasps, and Cicada Killers.

“Distinguishing between a bee and a wasp is important, especially regarding control measures or nest removal, because they each require a specific treatment method,” said Peaslee. “Bees and wasps have a number of beneficial qualities to them, but they are also disruptive and dangerous for some people, which would require action to be taken on the nest.”

Bees stay in their hives throughout the winter while wasp and hornet nest will die off after the first hard frost with just the queens overwintering in protected sites in trees, structures, etc. before returning to activity in the spring, More information on bees, wasps, and other stinging insects can be found at www.modernpest.com.

These little creatures are not exactly my favorite. They can be nasty, unpredictable and take no prisoners, so to speak. I always refer to them as “underground terrorists.” Although they perform a needed service to the ecosystem, I don’t particularly care for their presence.

Fishy Photo: Striper Beauty

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Roger Files, 13, of Palermo, caught this 19-pound, 33-inch striped bass during a July 31 vacation at Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.

TECH TALK: Internet “outing” – social conscience or vigilante justice?

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ERIC’S TECH TALK

by Eric Austin
Computer Technical Advisor

A couple of weeks ago, a violent clash broke out between protesters and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. The violence occurred at a rally organized by white nationalists, angry at the imminent removal of a memorial for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

I was home and watching it unfold as it happened. It was chilling to see footage of hundreds of men marching six abreast, torches held high and chanting “Blood and soil!” and “Jews will not replace us!”

Later in the day, reports came in that one of the white nationalists had rammed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a young woman and injuring many more. The moment was captured on video and played ad nauseum in the news media.

An observant twitter user noted the major difference between racists of the past and those marching in Charlottesville: they no longer bothered with the iconic white robes and conical hoods. Their faces were plain to see.

Instead of a few grainy pictures on the front page of the Evening Post, thousands of photos and live video got posted to the internet.

The following day a tweet popped up in my twitter feed. It was an appeal for help in identifying individuals from the photos and video that had been circulating the internet and cable news channels. Full of righteous indignation, I liked and retweeted it.

Most of us have online profiles available for public view with our real names attached to a photo, and often to a place of employment or school, or even to the names of other people we know. On sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. Also in less obvious places like school alumni pages and business websites that list employees. Even our Amazon profiles have information about us. We leave our digital fingerprints everywhere.

On Monday, reports continued to pour in. One of the white nationalists had been identified and his employer began receiving complaining calls. He was fired.

Another young man’s family, after he was outed on twitter, publicly disowned him in a letter sent to their local paper – which was then broadcast worldwide on the web. His nephew gave interviews to the press. “Our relatives were calling us in a panic earlier today,” he said, “demanding we delete all Facebook photos that connect us to them.”

This is all for the best, I thought to myself. Racism is wrong. White nationalism is destructive. Surely, the best way of dealing with such views is to shine a light on them.

The practice of publishing identifying information to the internet, called “doxing,” has grown over recent years. It appears in forms both arguably beneficial (exposure of government or corporate corruption) and utterly malicious (revenge porn).

Within days, the New York Times was reporting on one poor man in Arkansas, who had been misidentified by over-zealous internet sleuths. His inbox quickly filled with messages of vulgarity and hate. Ironically, this was in reaction to similar sentiments displayed in Charlottesville just a few days earlier.

I have always found myself coming down on the side of Benjamin Franklin, who said, “It is better 100 guilty persons should escape [justice] than that one innocent person should suffer.”

It’s a maxim Franklin applied to our criminal justice system, but I think it’s relevant here.

If you attend a neo-Nazi rally and decide not to bring your pointy hood, you risk family and friends seeing your face plastered all over the news.

But let’s not allow the internet’s version of mob mentality to dictate the rules for our society.

There is a reason John Adams insisted “we are a nation of laws, not of men.” There is a reason our Founding Fathers chose to make this nation a constitutional republic instead of one ruled only by the majority.

The internet is a powerful tool, but one better used to facilitate dialogue with others, and not as a weapon to bludgeon them. The internet may be a billion voices, but it can also wear a billion boots. Let’s not trample the innocent in our mad rush to condemn the justifiably horrific.

If you’d like to be my third follower on twitter, you can find me @realEricAustin or email me at ericwaustin@gmail.com.

Obituaries, Week of August 31, 2017

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HERBERT W. (SAM) BIRCH

COOPERS MILLS – Herbert William “Sam” Birch, 84, passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2017, in Coopers Mills, following a long illness. Sam was born on December 11, 1932, in New Rochelle, New York, to Oscar LaMarr and Mary Ann Gertrude Smith Birch.

He graduated from University of Maine at Orono in 1955 with a degree in poultry husbandry. He proudly served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and elsewhere. He met his future wife, the former Mary Strickland, on a blind date and married her on June 29, 1957, at Penney Memorial United Baptist Church, in Augusta.

He began his teaching career in 1958. Over the years, he taught science at Winslow Junior High, Hodgkins Junior High, and Cony High School, in Augusta. He retired as chairman of the science department in 1991.

Sam was an accomplished gardener and won many blue ribbons for his vegetables and over 300 varieties of dry beans entered at the Union Fair, Windsor Fair, and Common Ground Country Fair. He gave lectures at the Common Ground Country Fair about growing dry beans. He was a member of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and earned the title of master gardener. He also served on the board of directors for The Town Line newspaper.

He was a generous, witty, and dedicated individual who loved serving others. He was an active and dedicated member of the Whitefield Lions Club, Senior Spectrum board chairman and member, a founding board member of the Sheepscot Valley Health Center, member of the American Cancer society, Relay for Life, and MOFGA, among many other organizations. He helped start the ADAPT, an alcohol and drug prevention team, at Cony High School. He was a second-generation lifelong Scouter. Sam enjoyed hosting the Boy Scout troop from Mamaroneck, New York, each summer. He was a proud member of the “Old Boys Club” and enjoyed getting together to relive the old days of teaching with other retired teachers from Cony high school.

Sam is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Birch; and his son, David Birch.

He is survived by his daughter Nancy Birch, of Augusta, son Peter Birch and wife Carol, of Windsor, and son Andrew Birch, of Augusta; his grandchildren, Jason Libby and wife Betsy, of New Gloucester, Maine, Melissa Birch, of Quincy, Massachusetts, Samuel Birch and Matthew Birch, of Windsor; and two great-grandsons, Carter and Jackson Libby, both of New Gloucester.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

GEORGE W. STUDLEY

CHINA – George W. Studley, 73, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 18, 2017. He was born on July 12, 1944, the son of George and Winola Studley.

George, also known as Ty, grew up on the Studley Farm, in Palermo. He graduated from Erskine Academy, in South China, in 1963, and Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute in 1965 with a degree in carpentry. He received an honorary discharge from the Maine National Guard, Bangor.

George married his high school sweetheart, the former Bonnie Bumps, in 1965, and they built their home in China. He worked for 27 years at Architectural Woodcraft, in Vassalboro, which later became Duratherm Windows where he became the plant supervisor. Being a multi-talented person with carpentry skills and a Jack-of-all trades, he became the community handyman.

He was an active member of the China Village Volunteer Fire Department for over 50 years, 37 years as the chief.

George, Ty, Dad, Geo, Beeps, Chief…was a man of few words, yet you always knew how he felt. He was hardworking, thoughtful, kind and always there for his family and friends, with his dog by his side.

He had many interests. Most important was spending time with his children and grandchildren and attending their athletic events and taking them hunting and fishing. Each summer and winter the family took fishing trips to the Allagash.

He raised white-faced Herefords, made maple syrup, cut firewood and was fascinated with digital technology. George enjoyed early mornings having coffee and visiting with friends.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years; their daughter, Wendy, and husband Tracy Bonsant, of Windsor; son, Robert, of Palermo; grandchildren, Courtney Bonsant and her partner Damien Belanger, of China; Noah Bonsant, of Windsor; and Brady Studley, of Palermo; sister Sue and husband Harold Charles, of China; and several cousins and close friends.

Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave., in Belfast.

Memorial donations may be made to the China Village Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 6035, China Village, ME 04926.

GEORGE HORAK

PALERMO – George Horak, 62, of Palermo, passed away Sunday, August 20, 2017, at Togus VA Hospital. He was born Feb. 5, 1955, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Anton and Pauline (Est) Horak.

In his early teens, he moved to Maine with his family. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

George was predeceased by his father.

Survivors include his mother, Pauline; his wife of 36 years, Gail; his children, Daryl Horak, Lisa Robinson and friend Todd, Mary Golden and husband Justin, and Linda Favreau and husband Andrew; his siblings, Michael Horak, Anton Horak, Lydia LeClair, and James Horak; several grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2017, at George’s residence.

Memories and condolences may be shared at: www.ripostafh.com.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

RAYMOND E. CULVER, M.D.

WATERVILLE – Raymond E. Culver, M.D., 89, passed away on Tuesday August 22, 2017. He was born on November 14, 1927, in Jackson, Michigan, the son of Ophelia (Kohls) and Guy Culver.

He grew up in Stockbridge, Michigan, and graduated from Hill School, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1956 with an M.D. in internal medicine. In 1957, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. After a parachuting injury he was reassigned to West Point where he was physician to the Cadets. He was discharged a captain and always remembered his time of service as a highlight in his life.

In the early ‘60s, he came to Waterville’s Thayer Hospital and became Maine’s first formally-trained gastroenterologist. A humble and unassuming man he rarely spoke of the honors he received in his specialty over the years. He retired in 2005. He was a member of AA for over 32 years and was not ashamed of being known as one, especially if it meant it could help someone. He personally knew the challenges faced by anyone making an effort and of the courage needed to recover – he knew everyone was redeemable and worthy of forgiveness. Often recognized for his kindness and gentleness and being very approachable he would quickly say, “I’m just another Bozo on the bus.” It was in his service to others that he was being true to himself.

A lifelong learner, Ray was an avid reader of mostly biographies and history. He was a classical pianist who enjoyed hunting and fishing; as well as tennis and sailing; throw in his love of cribbage and life was good. Simply put: he was the consummate officer and gentleman.

Ray is survived by his wife of 15 years Jean Culver; his sons, Christopher Culver and his wife Catherine, Jonathan Culver and their mother Suzanne Culver, his stepchildren, Lori Ward and her husband Capt. Ronald Ward, Doris Vermette and her husband David, Shawn Newton and his wife LeeAnne; his 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

Ray was predeceased by his twin sister Ruth, his brother Guy, his stepdaughter Natalie; and his beloved mother-in-law Doris Bemis.

Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Ray’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Travis Mill Foundation, 89 Water St., Hallowell ME 04347.

PAUL DUPLESSIE

VASSALBORO – Paul E. Duplessie, 81, of Vassalboro, passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, in Vassalboro. He was born in East Vassalboro on May 17, 1936, the son of Christine (Patenaude) and Emile Duplessie.

He graduated from Winslow High where he was active in the school band and became a lifelong supporter of Winslow football.

Paul proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a corporal. He went on to study electrical installation in Illinois and became a nationally-qualified electrician. He returned to Maine and for the next 38 years was an electrician for Scott Paper Co. and then Kimberly-Clark.

Over the years Paul was an organist at St. Bridget’s Church, was a photographer for the Vassalboro community calendar, a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, a life member of Bourque-Lanigan American Legion Post #5, in Waterville, a life member of Vassalboro Historical Society and Vassalboro Public Library. He faithfully enjoyed lunch at The Villager Restaurant, in Waterville, “where everybody knows your name.”

A highlight for Paul was a month long cross country trip he and Myrna took shortly after his retirement. They crossed over the northern states and returned the mid-states. Paul was a well-read man, with a wide range of interests – you name it – but cars were about as close to a passion as anything.

Paul is survived by his wife of 27 years, Myrna (McLean) Duplessie; his daughter Cindy Davis, his son Steven Duplessie and his wife Laurie, his daughter Pat Manning and her husband Bill, his stepchildren, Bob Beideman, Karen Beideman, Jeff Beideman and his wife Illyona; his eight grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; his two brothers, Thomas Duplessie, of Belfast, and Don Duplessie and his wife Rita, of Portland, Oregon; his favorite in-laws, John McLean, Everett McLean and his wife Marie, Neil McLean, Deanna Malloy and her husband Pat; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his son-in-law Jim Davis and his sister-in-law Celeste McLean.

There will be a committal service with Marine Corps Honors at 11 a.m., on Saturday Septembere 2, in Village Cemetery, Cemetery Street, in Vassalboro. Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with Paul’s family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Vassalboro Historical Society, PO Box 43, East Vassalboro, ME 04935 or Vassalboro Public Library, 930 Bog Road, Vassalboro, ME 04989.

OTHERS DEPARTED

BRUCE H. POOLER, 69, of Rome, passed away on Monday, August 7, 2017, at his home. Locally, he is survived by daughters Tracy L. Knox and husband Craig, of Sidney, Michele L. Martin and husband Steve, of Winslow; brother Rodney B. Pooler, of Waterville; and grandchildren Cody C. Knox, of sidney, Sydnie Martin and Stephanie Martin, both of Clinton, Trevor Willoughby, of Benton, Justin Martin, Kaylee Willoughby, Nathan Martin and Sophie Martin, all of Winslow.

VERDIE E. LEIGHTON, 83, of Burnham, passed awayt on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor. Locally, he is survived by brothers Fred Leighton and Bobby Shorey, of Unity; sister LeeAnn Vance, of Augusta.

IRENE B. OUELLETTE, 96, of Waterville, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2017, at Mount St. Joseph Nursing Home, in Waterville, following a long illness. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Carol Chick, of Winslow.

DORIS J. BEARCE, 85, of Waterville, passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2017, at Oak Grove Center, in Waterville. Locally, she is survived by sons Daniel Bearce and wife Kate, of Windsor, Jeffrey Bearce and wife Joanna, of Waterville, and John Bearce and wife Patricia, of Winslow.

ELSIE LADD, 83, of Freedom, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2017. Locally, she is survived by a son, Ronald Ladd and wife Kathy, of Albion.

ANDRE D. CHABOT, 64, of Augusta, passed away on Tuesday, August 14, 2017, at his home following a courageous battle with cancer. Locally, he is survived by a son, Todd Chabot and wife Jessica, of Windsor, brother Gaetan Chabot and wife Deborah, of South China, and a sister, Roxane Zibura and huband Francis, of Windsor.

PHILIP A. HUFF JR., 82, of Augusta, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at Togus Springs. Locally, he is survived by a daughter Dawn Coons and husband David, of Windsor.

KATHLEEN J, CONWAY, 86, of Waterville, and former English teacher at Waterville High School, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at the Maine Veterans Home, in Augusta. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Martha Cobb and husband Bill, and granddaughter, Katie Cobb, all of Fairfield.

GLENWOOD ELLIOTT, 90, of Augusta, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2017, at the Maine Veterans Home, in Augusta. Locally, he is survived by a daughter Carol Churchill, of Windsor.

ROBERT F. CREIGHTON, 80, of Etna, passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2017, at a Bangor hospital following a long period of failing health. Locally, he is survived by a stepson, Sheldon Lane, and step-grandson, Ryan Lane, both of Benton.