OBITUARIES for Thursday, August 14, 2025

CHRISTINE COUTURE

SIDNEY – Christine “Tina” Couture, 74, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at her home. Tina was born on December 24, 1950, to Barbara O’Donnell and Theodore R. McFadden.

Tina grew up in Sidney and graduated in 1969 from the last graduating class of Williams High School, in Oakland. Tina was a hard worker and loved her family and friends with fierce loyalty. She worked for Depositors Trust Co., in Waterville, as a teller and then a loan officer at the Augusta Branch for over 28 years. She loved camping, being by the lake and spending time with her family and friends.

She loved her pets.

She leaves behind sisters Mary Niles and Gail Martin; brother James McFadden; two granddaughters Alyza and Julia; four great-grandchildren, along with extended family.

She was predeceased by three brothers, Theodore T. McFadden, Donald McFadden and Richard O’Donnell.

A celebration of life to be announced on Tina’s FB page.

CHARLES D. COUTU

Vassalboro- Charles (Charlie) Donald Coutu, 64, passed away from his 11-month cancer battle, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Augusta HealthCare and Rehab­ilitation Center. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to his parents the late Charles Coutu Sr. and the late Joyce (Lebeau) Coutu Brillon.

He attended school in Woonsocket, and worked as a painter for Tetreault Bros. In 1988 he moved to Vassalboro. He worked as a roofer for G&E Roofing Co,. in Augusta, for 20 years, and later the China Dinah, in South China. Upon retiring he became a backyard farmer tending to his several animals. He also loved gardening.

Charles is survived by his daughter Rebecca Tellier, and granddaughter Olivia Padula, both of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; his sisters Jeanine Conant, of Leeds, Donna Conant, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Angelee Moritz, of Missouri; his brothers Donald and Brian, both of Woonsocket, Rhode Island;as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his lifelong best friend Wanda Plante, of Vassalboro, and her family.

Charles was predeceased by his sister Denise Coutu.

Arrangements for cremation are being held by Direct Cremation of Maine. A Mass will be held for Charles at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Augusta, on Saturday, August 30, at 1 p.m.

BARBARA J. BARROWS

FAIRFIELD CENTER – Barbara Jean (Pelletier) Barrows, of Fairfield Center, died Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Oak Grove Nursing Center, in Waterville. She was born December 2, 1953, in Waterville, the daughter of Albenie and Rose (Poissonier) Pelletier. She attended local schools and graduated from Winslow High School in 1971.

Barbara spent her career working to help the less fortunate, having spent several years at Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, in Waterville, before moving on to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, where she worked for many years in the Skowhegan and Farmington offices.

In her spare time, Barbara enjoyed kayaking, bowling, traveling, and hitting the slots wherever she went. She was fiercely devoted to her children.

Barbara was predeceased by her son, Danny Barrows, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, by her siblings, baby Ann Pelletier, Alvie, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Alfred, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Richard, of Clinton, Estelle, of Winslow, Alberic, of Vassalboro, Larry, of St. Albans, Shirley, of Canaan, and Mae, of Oakland.

She is survived by her long-term partner, Arthur Goodwin, of Fairfield Center; sons Jerry Barrows-Fitzgerald and his husband, Michael Barrows-Fitzgerald, of Providence, Rhode Island, Christopher Goodwin and his long-term partner, Jamie Peace, of Winslow, and their children Kayla Parker, Jailen Parker, Gabbie Reyes, and Aiden Moody; grandchildren Lorie Larochelle, of Machias, and Jonathan Barrows; brothers Robert Pelletier, of Norridgewock, and Donald Pelletier, of Augusta.

A visitation service will take place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

GARY DESJARDIN

WINDSOR – Gary Desjardin, 71, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025. He was born August 23, 1953, the son of Leroy and Gisele Desjardin, of Augusta.

Gary worked at Snow’s Tire, in Augusta, and was a long-time employee of Statler Tissue, in Augusta. Gary also worked at Macomber Trucking and Sheridan Corporation.

Gary’s hobbies included hunting and fishing trips to the Allagash, but his favorite past-time was playing horseshoes.

Gary married the former Patricia Beaulieu, in November 1972, and had two sons, Dwight and Brian. They were later divorced. Gary married Melody Mckenna, in November 1988, and they later divorced in 1996.

Gary is survived by his son Dwight, of Vassalboro and his son Brian, of Crown, Pennsylvania; brother Mark, of Vassalboro, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Gary was predeceased by his parents, Leroy and Gisele, grandparents, Willie and Amiee Baillargeon and sisters, Debra and Roxanne Desjardin.

At Gary’s request there will be no service. Special arrangements have been made with his family to honor his wishes.

SHIRLEY H. CASEY

OAKLAND – Shirley Hildegarde (Ledue) Casey, 87, of Oakland passed away peacefully at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta, on Saturday, August 2, 2025, following a brief illness. She was born October 15, 1937, in Portland, the youngest child of Byron and Hildegarde Ledue.

She grew up in Portland with her brothers Kenneth, Herbert, and Arthur and her sister, Marilyn (Payette). She attended Cathedral High Schoo, in Portland. She married her husband of 50 years, John “Jack” Casey Jr. in 1967.

Shirley had varying jobs but her two sons, Daniel and Joel, kept her busy. Nonetheless, she made many friends when she worked over the course of many years at different jobs in the Waterville area, including Seton Hospital, Shaw’s Supermarket, both in Waterville, and Hilman’s Bakery, in Fairfield. In her later years, the greatest joy in Shirley’s life was her four grandchildren. She had a very close relationship with all of them and was a nurturing presence in their lives as they grew up. Shirley was also blessed with two daughters-in law, Danielle who married Dan, and Kara who married Joel. Shirley also loved dogs.

Shirley will be remembered as a kind, caring, and loving soul who went out of her way to help and comfort others, even complete strangers.

She was predeceased by her husband, Jack, and her brothers, Herbert (wife Frances and Martha) and Kenneth (wife Noella), and sister, Marilyn (husband Normand) and sister-in-law Doris.

She is survived by Dan (Danielle) and Joel (Kara); her grandchildren, Kayla, Brooke, Joshua and Nathan, and her great-grandchildren, Jacoby, Liam and Elliot; and her brother Arthur; and two dozen nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Notre Dame Du Perpetual Secours, 116 Silver Street, Waterville, Maine. A private internment was held for the immediate family following the Mass.

Those who wish to may give a gift in her memory to Somerset Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 453, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

NANCY J. YORK

SKOWHEGAN – Nancy Jane York, 91, passed away on Sunday August 3, 2025. Nancy was born December 29, 1933 in Benton, the daughter of Lillian Chylene Frances Runnels and Edwin Henry Towne.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband, William Eldred York, son Robert Edward York, parents Lillian Adams and Edwin Towne, and half brothers, Edwin Towne Jr and Frank Perry Gifford.

Nancy is survived by her son Walter York and fiancée Michele; her daughter Betty Giguere and husband Jon; 11 grandchildren;
16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Most of Nancy’s childhood years were spent in Melrose Massachusetts and Benton.
She attended schools in Melrose and Benton.

In 1949 Nancy met William Eldred York, of Caratunk. They were married June 24, 1950, in Caratunk. In 2024 they celebrated 74 years of marriage.

Nancy had a lifetime of hard work and serving others. She was full of determination to conquer and succeed in all that was before her. Nancy married at the age of 16 and started their family right away lending her unable to finish high school. Years later she earned her GED, attended Kennebec Valley Technical Institute, in Fairfield, becoming an LPN, and Saint Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing advancing herself to an RN.

Nancy’s passions were baking, cookbooks and animal charities.

Bill and Nancy raised their family in Caratunk. In 1981 they moved to Skowhegan. Once the family was grown, together they enjoyed many years of travel throughout the U.S. and Europe. For 11 years they also enjoyed their winter home, in St. Cloud, Florida.

After 30 years employment, Nancy retired from Redington-Fairview General Hospital, in Skowhegan, in 2003.

Nancy was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Caratunk Congragational Church and the Federated Curch, in Skowhegan.

Funeral services will be held at the Federated Church in Skowhegan, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11 a.m. There will be a luncheon immediately following in Fellowship Hall.

GEORGE W. GOGAN

CLINTON – George William Gogan, 78, of Clinton, passed away at his home early on the morning of Sunday, August 3, 2025.

George started his adventures right out of high school joining the U.S. Army to eventually find himself in Germany riding around in a Jeep as an MP (Military Police).

He also took to the open road as a long-distance truck driver for a few years after leaving Cascade Woolen Mill, in Oakland, where he worked as a machine mechanic.

George was also an avid outdoorsman, liking fishing (or “wishing” as he would sometimes call it) hunting (a member of the Big Bucks Club) and 4-wheeling along a trail, even if there was no trail. He and Kathy spent many happy summers at Moosehead Lake making friends from near and far, even becoming Campground Hosts at Spencer Bay for several years. Their golden years were just that, with all those lovely sunsets in the Bay.

George is survived by his daughter, Mary Moore and her husband, Mike, and her mother, Carol D’Amboise; brother, Loring Gogan Jr. and his wife, Patricia; his sisters Frances Begin and her husband Thomas, and Donna Myer; step-children Walter Gogan Jr., Laurie Nale and her husband Mark and Lucinda Nale and her husband John.

A celebration of life event will be announced at a later date.

As many of his friends and family know, George had a soft spot for stray animals of all sorts so we are suggesting instead of flowers please consider a donation to your local animal shelter in his memory.

HOLLY L. SZADY

AUGUSTA – Holly Lynn (Fossett) Szady, 62, died at home of M.B.C. breast cancer on Sunday, August 10, 2025. Holly was born in Augusta, on December 24, 1962, to Lois B. Fossett and Edgar Fossett.

Holly lived in Augusta most of her life and attended Cony High School. She received her G.E.D. in 1981, the same year she would have graduated.

She was blessed to have her son Lance Szady in 1988 which was and still is her greatest gift.

From a young age Holly really enjoyed taking care of people in their homes and continued until she got her C.N.A. in 1995.

Holly went on to work at Glenridge Nursing Facility on the dementia unit. She really loved how rewarding that job was.

Holly worked at Graybirch in medical records and after a few years went to work at Riverview Psychiatric Facility as a mental health worker on the forensic unit. Holly did enjoy that type of care, but it was a short-lived job due to three failed shoulder surgeries. Holly then started renovating foreclosures with her brothers and friends. She was known as Holly of all trades.

Holly made “a lot” of friends along her journey, even made a few listen to her 45’s (records). Sorry- “Not”!!

Holly grew up working on cars and trucks, from mechanics to body work. She liked challenges. Holly also loved fishing with her family, and, yes, used a worm and bobber and that’s how Lance and Holly’s nephew learned how to fish but they outgrew it.

Holly was predeceased by her mother Lois B. Fossett, father, Edgar Fossett.

Holly is survived by her son, Lance Szady, of Auburn; sister Pam Glidden and her husband Dave Glidden, of Readfield; brothers Scott Fossett, of Sidney, Rick Harrison, of Belgrade; stepfather, Dana Clark, of Jefferson; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Holly’s visitation will be held on Wednesday August 20, from 3 – 5 p.m., at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta. Her funeral service will follow immediately after. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Care, One Church Street, Augusta, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home website, www.khrfuneralhomes.com

Others Departed

JUDITH M. ANDREWS

CORNVILLE – Judith M. Andrews, 79, passed away suddenly on May 21, 2025, at Redington-Fairview General Hospital, in Skowhegan. Judith was born on April 14, 1946, daughter to Orin Victor and Irene Maria (St. Pierre) Giggey, in Skowhegan. She spent much of her career years at the Somerset County Correctional System helping many people.

Judith was an avid golfer and a breast cancer survivor. She loved spending time with her family and friends and splitting her time between her home in Cornville and Florida.

She was predeceased by both her parents, her brothers Stephen and Warren, and her grandsons Aaron Hunter and Joshua LePage-Ellis.

Judith is survived by her children Laura “Laurie” Ellis and Randy Ellis, both of Skowhegan; her grandchildren, Kailynn and Alexandria DePesa; great-grandchildren, Jada Sulim, Jaxson and Kaitlyn DePesa, Abel Hunter, along with several others.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 1 – 4 p.m., at the American Legion located, at 217 Waterville Road, in Skowhegan.

Please visit Judith’s memorial page at https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/judith-andrews-2025 where condolences, photos and special memories may be shared.