OBITUARIES for Thursday, April 4, 2024

RICK T. FULLER

ALBION – Rick True Fuller, 54, passed away Friday, March 22, 2024, at An­droscoggin Hospice House, following a brief battle with cancer. Rick was born in Waterville on July 18, 1969, to parents Percy Ralph and Viola M. Fuller.

Rick graduated from Lawrence High School, in Fairfield, in 1988. He later went on to get his steam engineers license from KVCC. Rick was employed as a boiler operator at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer Campus until he was hired by Huhtamaki, in March 1995, where he currently worked.

Rick was one of the friendliest helpful individuals you would ever meet. He was everyone’s “Mr. Fix It”. Rick enjoyed boating and fishing with his wife and family and friends along with his grand dog Tuukka. He also spent many weekends 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, or motorcycling depending on the season with friends and family. When he was not on any of the above, he was doing burnouts with his Camero. Rick was also an avid hunter and had a few deer heads to show for it.

Rick was predeceased by his father Percy Ralph Fuller and his father-in-law Bernard “Bunny” Linnell.

Rick is survived by his wife of 34 years Tammy Linnell Fuller; his son Gaige Fuller and his girlfriend Kaitlin Overlock; his mother Viola Fuller; his brothers Rocky Fuller and his wife Deedra, Russell Fuller and his girlfriend Lisa Giguere, all of Albion; his mother-in-law Wyone Linnell; many brothers- and sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and -nephews.

A Celebration of life at the Waterville Elks Lodge will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Lawry Brother Funeral Home, Main St., Fairfield..

MYRNA HAMM

ALBION – Myrna Hamm, 76, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024. Myrna was born September 15, 1947, in Bar­tow, Florida, the daughter of William Sasser and Rosemary Webber.

She moved to Clinton in 1958 and attended Clinton Elementary and High schools and graduated in 1965. After graduation, she enrolled in UNA’s Academy of Hair Design, in Skowhegan, and graduated in 1966.

At Clinton High School she fell in love with her childhood sweetheart, Russell, in 1965. Russell enlisted in the United States Air Force, and after graduating and returning home from basic training, they were married in Clinton in 1967.

Myrna loved being a hair stylist and all things to do with beauty and hair care. Under the teaching of Billy Dangler, of People’s Hair Design, she became more proficient in her career towards hair styling. After working with other salons, she opened a salon in her home, where she catered to a small, devoted clientele until the onset of dementia which forced her to end that part of her career.

Myrna will be missed most because of her loving spirit and smile and her love for those in need.

As a Christian, she was devoted to follow her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to serve others in need. She desired to start a food pantry in Albion upon learning that families were going to another town for food. She decided that as a ministry for God to start a pantry in Albion and accomplished this on January 7, 2007, by opening the Albion Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry with the help of her husband Russell and many other enthusiastic volunteers. The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is still going today after 17 years.

Myrna was predeceased by her parents, William Sasser and Rosemary Webber; a stepbrother Jack Webber and a sister India Cruz.

Myrna is survived by her husband Russell of 57 years; son Jason and his wife Amy, of Waterville; a brother Robert Webber, of Cannan; sister-in-law Wanda and Ernest Hawes, of Albion; along with many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are under the care of Lawry Brothers Funeral Home in Fairfield Maine. There will be a private committal service at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made in Myrna’s memory to Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, P.O. Box 354, Albion, ME 04910.

CLARANNE H. LILLY

WATERVILLE – Claranne Hume Lilly, 88, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2024. She was born in Millinocket the daughter of Andrew P. and Harriet (Page) Hume on October 9, 1935.

She was a graduate of Stearns High School, in Millinocket, attended Oak Grove School, in Vassalboro, and is a graduate of Gorham State Teachers College. Claranne spent her career as an educator teaching K-3 in South Paris and Eliot before spending the rest of her career in Waterville.

She was nominated in 1972 for membership to the State of Maine chapter of Delta Kappa Gama, a professional society for woman educators where she served on a number of committees. As an active educator she was also a member of the Waterville Teachers Association, Maine Education Association and was involved in the initiation of the Title I Reading Program.

She was predeceased by her parents and her husband Kenneth Lilly Jr.

Claranne is survived by her brother Andrew P. Hume Jr. and his wife Barbara; nephews Mark Hume and his wife Lisa, Eric Hume, Jon Hume, Scott Hume and his wife Ylva; step-son Kenneth Lilly III and his wife Jayne; step-daughter Kathy Dutkiewic and her husband David; sister-in-law Alice Tobey; grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and several great-nieces and -nephews; .

A graveside service will take place in Eliot at Brooks Memorial Cemetery in June.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.

In remembrance of her, memorial contributions may be made to Delta Kappa Gamma Int’l 43 Woodland Rd. Ellsworth Me. 04605.

MAE BELLE MAYO

WHITEFIELD – Mae Belle Mayo, 66, of Whitefield, died suddenly following a brief illness, at home, on Monday, March 25, 2024. She was born in Au­gusta on June 8, 1957, the daughter of Sherlock and Donna (Larrabee) Truman.

Mae was known for her loud voice, but with that loud voice was love. Mae was known for her hard work in all aspects of her life. She was very independent but was always willing to help others when it was needed.

Mae had a special passion for birds, domestic and wild. Along with a love for all animals, especially for her current dog companion Shadow. Mae enjoyed living in the country where she spent most of her life living. She enjoyed camping, country fairs, music, dancing in her younger days and attending or hosting gatherings with family and friends. She took delight in watching and being a part of her grandchildren’s childhood and upbringing. Mae took pride in being a part of a very large family where most members attempted to stay in touch.

Mae had accomplished a lot of goals throughout her adulthood independently such as getting her GED while having five children at home and the youngest being only in Head Start.

Mae also was very well known for, not just by family, but by her community wherever she resigned at for her cooking and baking. No one cooked or baked like she could. She could make such wonderful foods without a recipe. All she needed was a list of things available and she would whip up something yummy and amazing which would always be requested to be made again.

In Mae’s young adulthood she was known for her crafts and her famous crocheted blankets that she made. Mae loved holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween. Christmas allowed her to enjoy the company of family and friends, while Halloween allowed her to enjoy for many years of fun by dressing up in costumes of her own to enjoying the sight of children and young adults wearing costumes while handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Mae will be missed by all who have had the experience of meeting and or knowing her. She knew how to make everyone laugh and smile without trying. Mae was a very honest and blunt woman which allowed her to be a realist. What you saw and heard, is what you got. People never had to second guess the type of person she was.

She was predeceased by her parents Sherlock and Donna Truman; brothers John and Steven Truman; husband Sheridan Mayo; daughters Betty Ann Thornton and Brandy Lilly-Bizier, stepson Jeff Mayo; and a granddaughter Jadika Lilly.

Mae is survived by her fiancé Eugene Monroe; her son Greg Thornton and his fiancée Erika Thibeault; daughter Sarah Thornton and her two daughters Samantha Cunningham and Helena Ferland; daughter Billiejo (Lilly) Cushing and her daughter Nevaeh Cushing; stepdaughters Vicki (Mayo) and her husband Doug Cram and their two sons Derrick and Daniel; Valerie (Mayo) and her husband Josh and their two children John and Jillian; brothers Randall Truman and Richard Truman and his wife Linda; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner. A spring committal service will take place at the Maine Avenue Cemetery, in Farmingdale.

Arrangements and guidance are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

LINDA L. AMES

AUGUSTA – Linda L. Ames, 78, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. She was born in Washington, Maine, on November 2, 1945. Linda was a daughter of the late Louise (Lincoln) and George Ames, Sr.

After attending Ricca College, she dedicated her life to raising her children. Linda was a talented baker, friends and family always looked forward to her homemade donuts and fudge.

Linda is survived by her three children, son, Daniel Ames and daughter-in-law Monique Gilbert of Gardiner, daughters Tina Veilleux and husband Ronald, of Augusta, and Tania Patterson and husband Keith, of Chelsea; her grandchildren, Sarah Sinclair and husband James, Jessica Reeve and husband Tyler, and Benjamin Ames; her great-grandchildren, Autumn Veilleux, Jacob Sinclair and Grace Sinclair.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Marjorie Goff, Anita Curtis, Benjamin Ames, Robert Ames, and George Ames Jr.

A period of visitation will be held on Friday, April 5, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at a later date.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Linda’s name may be made to Maine Children’s Home, 93 Silver St., Waterville, ME 04901.

WILLIAM DELLERT

WATERVILLE – William “Bill” Dellert,76, died peacefully Thursday March, 28, 2024, at Mount Joseph’s Nursing Home, in Waterville, where he had been a resident since January. William was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, November 15, 1947, to W. David Jr. and Jean (Traquair) Dellert, moved to Southington, Connecticut, until the age of six, then spent the rest of his life in either Gardiner or Augusta.

Bill attended Gardiner Public schools and graduated Gardiner Area High School in 1965 where he was a member of the track and cross-country teams. As a boy, he delivered the Kennebec Journal door to door for many years. He shared a route of 90 papers with his brother that once relinquished had to be broken into two separate routes because it was so large and demanding. He spent his childhood summers fishing and swimming on Lake Cobbosseecontee at the Y Camp where his father was director for two decades.

He worked for many years at the Bates Mill Edwards Division, in Augusta, until its closing in 1985. He then worked in the kitchen for the Augusta House of Pancakes where he is remembered by a formal portrait painted of him which still hangs in the restaurant.

He was an avid sports fan and supported all things Boston, most recently the Bruins.

Earlier in his life he was keen to take himself to Boston, stay at the Y, and attend Celtics and Red Sox games.

He read voraciously, and was something of a Civil War historian and expert. He often read two newspapers a day, a habit he continued even while in the nursing home.

He is survived by his brother Peter and a sister-in-law Motoko Inoue, of Holyoke, Massachusetts; nieces Laura Raskin, of Brooklyn, New York, and Rebecca Raskin, of Burlington, Vermont; and cousins in Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.

His sister Annie Raskin died in 2020.

A memorial celebration will be scheduled in the future in Gardiner.

Arrangements and guidance are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory should be made to the YMCA Camp of Maine in Winthrop, Maine, or to the Boys and Girls Club of Kennebec Valley.

OTHERS DEPARTED

WILLIAM A. COOPER

WOOD BRIDGE, Connecticut – William Albert Cooper, 99, passed away at Charter Senior Living, Woodbridge, Connecticut, on February 20, 2024. He was born on March 7, 1924 in Caribou, Maine to Gretchen Maud Cox and William Albert Cooper.

He graduated from Caribou High School, served in World War II on the USS Philadelphia and also served in the Korean War.

He was an accountant for Maine Potato Growers, Presque Isle, held a position in management at C.F. Hathaway Shirt Company, in Waterville, retiring 30 years later. He established his own accounting and tax business in Naples, New York, where he later retired.

Bill is survived by his wife, Katharine “Kitty” Corti; his children, Kathleen (Paul) Bard, of Winslow, William (Cynthia) Cooper, of Nokomis, Florida, Michael (Pam) Cooper of Naperville, Illinois, and Corti (Carlos Esteves) Cooper, of Stratford, Connecticut; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; his sister Marianne Ruth Cooper Magner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his first wife of 26 years, Patricia Marino Cooper.

There will be a celebration of life at a later date in Naples, New York, and Maine.

In remembrance of him, memorial contributions to support education for all may be made to the Naples NY Rotary Club, PO Box 173, Naples, NY 14512 or the Friends of Naples Library, P.O. Box 157, Naples, NY 14512.