OBITUARIES for Thursday, August 3, 2023

ALIA C. SINGH

AUGUSTA – Alia (Coombs) Singh, 40, unexpectedly passed away from complications of a routine surgery on Sunday, July 2, 2023. She was born to Michael and Sheila McCarty on October 16, 1982, National Bosses Day, she was proud to say.

Alia earned her associate degree (Cum Laude) from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, in baking and pastry arts.

While growing up, she loved animals with all her heart and became a vegetarian because of that love. Her hobbies included Anime, Bingo with her mom, being an auntie, couponing everything and family holidays.

Alia was very independent despite the considerable amount of pain she endured in her lifetime. She said exactly what she thought and was overly honest about herself. She was a kind and generous soul who would gladly give the shirt off her back to help someone in need. Coffee was her best friend.

Alia finally began her road to happiness just 10 days before her passing. She was married on the Kennebec River at sunset to Dheeraj Singh, best known as “Raj,” who loved her very much. Her mom, Sheila, a Notary Public, performed the ceremony, and her dad, Michael, walked her down the aisle to her happiness on that beautiful day.

Alia was predeceased by her only child, Adrias Coombs, who passed away in 2007.

She is survived by her husband, Dheeraj Singh; her parents Michael and Sheila McCarty, of Palermo; her sisters, Maygen, brother-in-law, Brian and nephews Lucas and Jacob Hardy, of Holden, and Paula, brother-in-law, Karl, nephew Owen, nieces Paige and Kyleigh Doucette, of Carmel; as well as many uncles, aunts, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held on a future day with her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to any of the following: The Augusta Food Bank, 161 Mt Vernon Ave., Augusta, ME 04330; Addie’s Attic, 209 Eastern Ave., Augusta, ME 04330; or the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pethaven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330.

LAURA W. ARSENAULT

SCARBOROUGH – Laura W. (Bickford) Arsenault, 96, of Skowhegan, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2023. She was the youngest child of Leslie W. Bickford and Ruby (Dorian) Bickford. She was born May 8, 1927, in Smithfield.

She received her education in a one-room schoolhouse in Smithfield, and at Norridgewock High School.

On February 10, 1948, she married Agnew P. Arsenault, and they raised three fine sons, twins Darryl L. and Eric P. Arsenault and Gregory W. Arsenault. Agnew passed away October 21, 1977, at the age of 56. Laura went to work at Cedar Ridge Nursing Home in 1982 as a dietary aide, where she worked for 20 years, retiring in 2002. She was a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary, in Skowhegan, where she was the chaplain for many years. She was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church in Skowhegan.

She was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and word games. She also loved listening to music, big band/jazz being her favorite. She always fed the birds and squirrels and enjoyed spending time with her sons and daughter-in-law, Liz, especially when they all went to Ken’s Restaurant for her favorite meal, fried haddock and onion rings.

She is survived by all three sons, Darryl, of Freeport, Eric and his companion Joyce Arthurs, of Levant, and Greg and his wife Liz, of Yarmouth; grandsons Eric R. Arsenault and his wife Nicole, of Saco, and Darryl P. Arsenault ,of Connecticut; niece Kathy Dea Soucier and her husband Bruce, of East Baldwin, and their sons Jarred Russell and Bryce Soucier; as well as several nieces and nephews; step-niece Karen Foster, of Smithfield.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, brothers Glenwood (Buster) Bickford, Lauris W. Bickford and Ronald H. Bickford, sisters, Margaret Ellis and Madeleine Bennett, sisters-in-law, Catherine, Bickford, Ruth Bickford and Perdita Bickford, special cousin Thelma Staples and grand-nephew Matthew Russell.

Committal services will be held at the convenience of the family at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta.

THOMAS SHOLL

OAKLAND – Thomas Sholl, 72, passed away on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Thomas E. Sholl was born in Mineola, Long Island, New York, on November 26, 1950, the youngest child of Bertram and Ellen Sholl.

His four siblings are John (Lorraine), Robert (Lynn), William (Mary Louise), and Patricia (his favorite sister). He has nieces Jennifer, Liza, and Rebecca and nephews Peter, Thomas, and Gregory.

He was predeceased by his nephew, Edward; and his parents.

Tom attended Catholic schools, and after dropping out of college, worked until he acted on his dream to leave Long Island.

Tom escaped to Maine in 1974. He created the life he wanted and took great joy in it. He married Ruth and gained a brother-in-law, Gerry, a niece, Kristen (and her partner, Peter). He worked for the Department of Environmental Protection. Tom never wanted to go away for vacation. He said he already lived where he would choose to vacation. On any overnight trip, at some point, he would say, “We’ve been here for two days. Can we go home now?”

Tom was a polymath, and took deep dives into, to name a few subjects, geology, physics, horticulture, music theory, and astronomy. He loved learning. He played bridge with some wonderful partners. He gardened with passion. He looked up into the night sky in awe. He listened with a fine ear to classical music and rock and roll alike. And he knew more about physics than any normal person should.

Tom got to die, in his sleep, in the home he so loved. This was Tom’s idea of his perfect death.

His life was taken by Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration, a rare brain disease that robbed him of who he was. He was symptomatic for about 12 years, finally diagnosed after eight of those years, and needed 24-hour care for the last three years of his life.

Tom donated his brain to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center to be used for research to better understand the human brain and its disorders.

When Tom and Ruth moved into their perfect home in 1987, Tom announced he wished to live there until he died and then be taken feet first out the front door. On July 15, 2023, his wish was granted, and he left wearing his Brain Donor T-shirt that said, “My brain is going places. Is yours?”

There will be no services or gatherings. Tom’s real desire was to have his body put in a large garbage bag and thrown on the side of the road. When he grudgingly accepted this couldn’t happen (at the least, very tacky; at the most, very illegal) he decided he wanted to be cremated and returned to his gardens and woods.

EDITH DORE

SIDNEY – Edith Dore, 86, of Cameron Drive, Sidney, died Saturday, July 15, 2023. She was born August 28, 1936, in Sidney, daughter of Malcom and Blanche Philbrick.

She was a member of White Rose Chapter #174, Eastern Star, of Sidney, where she had received her 50-year pin.

Edith graduated from Cony High School, in Augusta, in 1954. She had been employed at Augusta Lumber Company, Wadleigh Oil and Kennebec County Treasurer Office. She retired from the State of Maine, Bureau of Taxation on August 30, 1996.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Dore, of 65 years of marriage; daughters, Deborah Drake and husband, Wade, and Katherine Trask and husband, Bruce; five grandchildren, Heather, Jenna, Ashlee, Derek and Nicole; as well as great-grandchildren, Kai, Kristopher, Haley, Christian and Maxwell.

Per Edith’s request, there will be no service at this time.

MARY KAY WHITMORE

WATERVILLE – Mary Kay Whitmore, 79, passed away on Friday, July 21, 2023. Mary Kay was born Mary Kath­erine Doyle, on November 6, 1944, in Milton, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Elizabeth Doyle.

Mary Kay grew up in Milton, Massachusetts, along with her brother Peter, and graduated from Milton High School in 1962 and Cardinal Cushing College in 1966.

Mary Kay’s love story with her husband, Richard, began in 1965 and it continued for 57 years. They were introduced by Richard’s sister, Maureen, and their first date was a memorable one; they attended a Boston Celtics game. This marked the start of a life filled with love and basketball for Mary Kay.

On August 20, 1966, Mary Kay and Richard were married in Milton, Massachusetts. Together they relocated to Maine, eventually settling in Waterville, where they raised their family. Mary Kay’s family was her pride and joy and her grandchildren and the bond she shared with them added an extra layer of joy to her life.

Mary Kay was an educator and employed with the Waterville Public Schools and Pine Tree Basketball Clinic for 25 years.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; and her children, sons, Dick Whitmore and wife Kathi, of Hanover, New Hampshire, and Kevin Whitmore and wife Michele, of South Portland; daughters, Maribeth Hartley and her husband Jim, of Scarborough, and Amanda Whitmore, of Old Orchard Beach; grandchildren Katie, Maggie and Annie Whitmore, Allison and Melissa Whitmore and Caroline and Jack Hartley; her brother, Peter Doyle and his wife Jane; sister-in-law, Maureen Taylor and her husband Ray; and brother-in-law, Martin Whitmore and his wife Kathy; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Kay was predeceased by her mother, Elizabeth Doyle; as well as her in-laws Richard Sr. and Mary Whitmore.

Mary Kay’s legacy of love and kindness will forever live on in the hearts of those she touched. In honor of Mary Kay’s last wishes, please remember to exercise your right to vote and her family asks that you try to make every breath count.

A celebration of Mary Kay Whitmore’s life will be held in the Parker Reed Room, in the Alumni Center, at Colby College, in Waterville, on Saturday, August 19, at 1 p.m. Family and friends who knew and loved Mary Kay are invited to come together to honor her life.

Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Mary Kay’s memory, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Grace Zinck Memorial Scholarship Fund at http://www.mhsfund.org/cd_listing/grace-zinck-memorial-scholarship.

LETA B. CAMPBELL

BENTON – Leta B. Campbell, 83, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 23, 2023. Leta was born on October 14, 1939, in Newport. She was raised by her mother, Elanor Quimby.

Leta graduated from Lawrence High School, in Fairfield. Shortly after graduating she met the love of her life Eugene Campbell, and they were married on February 14, 1959. They spent the next 42 years together until Eugene’s passing.

Leta enjoyed crafting, music, singing karaoke, and socializing. Leta was also known for sending out cards to everyone she knew! She made it a priority to get her cards out to those special people in her life.

Leta is survived by her sons, Ray Campbell, Roger Campbell and wife Kim, and Michael Campbell wife Allison; her grandchildren: Chad Campbell, Brett Campbell, Lindsey Campbell, Tasha Ritter and husband Gary, Amber Campbell and wife Lacey, Hunter Campbell, Chris Labrie, Amber Willett and husband Eric, and Brandon Labrie and wife Morgan; great-grandchild Warren; sisters, Connie Wood and Evonne Kimball.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 5, at 1 p.m., at the Fairfield VFW, 246 Main St., in Fairfield. There will be a barbecue at the home of Mike and Allison Campbell on Sunday, August 6, at 1 p.m., at 24 Stobie Street, in Winslow.

An online guestbook may be signed, and memories shared at: http://www.lawrybrothers.com.

Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 107 Main St. Fairfield.

MARY M. GALLANT

WATERVILLE – Mary Margaret McNeill Gallant, 95, passed away peacefully at Glenridge Long Term Care home, in Augusta, on Monday, July 24, 2023. Mary was born in Portland, on May 24, 1928, in the shadow of St. Dominic’s Cathedral.

She spent her happy youth in the area with her mother, Delia Connelly McNeill, twin brothers, Herbert and Arthur, and her sister Kathleen (Moran).

She graduated from Cathedral High School, in Portland, in 1945, where she won fame by singing and dancing in every talent show. She was also known for her flowing golden curls, friendly smile, and quick wit.

After high school, Mary worked as a library assistant at the Portland Public Library, shelving books and helping the many readers and customers. Mary was married to John Ovide Gallant on June 21, 1952, and moved first to Westbrook, then to Lewiston, eventually moving to Waterville where the family purchased the Edmond Funeral Home, on Elm Street.

Mary raised six children in that residence, John, Jeanne (Joseph), Mary (Green), Arthur, Carol (Hahnl), and Gregory. She has nine grandchildren, Oliver, Jonathan, Alfred, Philip, Annie, Emma, Emily, Jhami and Angela, and several great-grandchildren. Mary was a cheerful woman and was a wonderful and much-loved mother and grandmother. She doted on her family and was the host of many large holiday parties and lakeside picnics through the years. There always was a batch of warm cookies on the kitchen counter.

Mary loved to travel and spent many happy days in Europe and all across America with her family. She also was involved in many civic and church groups in Waterville and traveled with a church group to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre shrine, in Québec, Canada, many times over the years. She loved to sing in church and her lovely soprano voice soared to the rafters. In 2010, she was granted a Certificate of Recognition thanking and congratulating her on 50 years as a volunteer with the Rosary Sodality organization, in Waterville.

She also was a member of local women’s groups, Caring Friends, the Rosary Sodality, and the Exchangettes, and could be heard laughing and giggling with them whenever they met.

Mary was a generous and kind person, a benefit to the community, and much loved by her family and friends. She will be missed.

Mary was predeceased by her parents and siblings, husband Ovide, and son Arthur. She is survived by her children, John (Dot), Jeanne (Mark), Mary, Carol (Dan) and Gregory (Amanda); her sister-in-law Wilma McNeill Pike; her daughter-in-law Lori Begin; her grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville, on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074, or to a charity of your choice.

THERESA N. SCHOLZ

VASSALBORO – Theresa N. “T.T.” Scholz, 81, died Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Maine Medical Center, in Portland. She was born in Sidney, on January 16, 1942, a daughter of the late Raymond and Alice (Brackett) Pooler.

Mrs. Scholz was a graduate of Waterville High School and was a communicant of St. Augustine Catholic Church, in Augusta.

She had been employed for 35 years at Frank X. Pomerleau, Inc. in Augusta, and, later, for Fortin’s Home Furnishings, in Winslow.

In June of 1973, Theresa met the love of her life, Eddie Scholz. Together, they enjoyed a 49 year loving relationship.

Theresa loved many things in life, the most important of which was her family.

Mrs. Scholz was predeceased by a son, Raymond L. Roy, Jr., and eleven brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her husband, Eddie J. Scholz, of Vassalboro; her daughter, Kimberly Carleton and her husband Carroll, of Pittston; two step-sons, Steven Scholz and his wife Kimberly, of Augusta, and Richard Scholz, of Utah; two sisters, Jean Roy, of Smithfield, and Beverly Adams, of Benton; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Relatives and friends may visit on Thursday, August 10, from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 p.m., at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 11, at 11 a.m., at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Northern Ave., Augusta. Burial and committal prayers will follow at Holy Family Cemetery, Townsend Road, Augusta.

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

The family requests that donations in Theresa’s memory be made to Alfond Center for Cancer Care, c/o MaineGeneral Office of Philanthropy, PO Box 82,Waterville, ME, 049012.

GEORGE BEAN

SIDNEY – George Bean, 87. passed peacefully on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. He was born on September 25, 1935.

George is now with his Ann, watching over their children Caralee, Betty and her husband Steve, Brian and his wife Becka, Weldon and his wife Cindy, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren.

There will be no funeral service.

CLAUSTIN L. LAWRENCE

SIDNEY – Claustin Lee Lawrence, 82, of Sidney, died Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Alfond Center for Health in Augusta. He was born in Newburg, on May 11, 1941, the son of Levi and Marian (Patten) Lawrence.

Claustin attended schools throughout the Litchfield area.

He was predeceased by his parents, Levi and Marian Lawrence, in-Laws Lauren and Annie Rideout.

Claustin is survived by his wife, Katherine (Rideout) Lawrence of 62 years; three children, daughter Brenda Beaulieu and husband Clement, of Sidney; son Claustin “Chuck” Lawrence and wife Belinda, of Holden, daughter Annie Nickerson and husband Glenn, of Sidney; three grandsons, Claustin Lawrence, of Millinocket, Brandon Lawrence and wife Jeanine and Dustin Lawrence, of Eddington; two sisters, Idona King and her husband Dennis, of South China, and Elaine White, of Monmouth; several sisters-in law, Leana Worthing, Dorothy Moulton, Irene Rideout, Priscilla Rideout, and Carol Rideout; and brother-in-law Ralph; several nieces and nephews; and sister in-law and brother-in-law Ramona and Joseph Dean, of Florida.

Claustin worked for the State of Maine Camp Keyes maintenance crew for over 30 years. After retirement he worked for his son’s business, Tradewinds Marketplace/Variety Stores, as a delivery person of products within the chain stores and to his daughter’s stores.

Claustin has touched many lives throughout Maine during his time working for his children. He interacted with convenience stores, banks, vendors, and customers who all loved to see him as the smile on his face was contagious.

There will be a private family graveside service at the Springer Hill Cemetery, in Sidney. A Celebration of life was held at their home, in Sidney, on Monday, July 31, 2023.

Arrangements 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 donations may be made to Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330, in Claustin’s honor.

ROBERT D. STEVENSON

PALERMO – Robert Darby Stevenson, of Palermo, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. He died suddenly of natural causes.

Bob was born in New York state and moved around with his parents Elizabeth and Robert Stevenson growing up. He received a double masters degree from Northwestern University and pursued a career as an English teacher. He left his teaching career and began seeking a more rural and free lifestyle. He searched New Hampshire and the surrounding states for land to homestead. In 1976, he discovered and fell in love with the natural beauty of his Banton Road location, in Palermo.

Bob pursued the owner about the land even though it wasn’t for sale at the time and eventually negotiated the purchase. He learned carpentry and would continue on to build two houses and a large barn on the property. Bob, affectionately nicknamed “Wild Man Bob” and “Bobcat”, enjoyed athletic pursuits including biking, mountain climbing, and long swims. He also had many hobbies including a recreational airplane pilot, musician (guitar and harmonica), a master gardener, reading, and forest management.

Bob had strong political and environmental views and lived off the grid for almost 50 years because of his convictions. More than anything he enjoyed being connected to the land, people, and world around him. In the last five years Bob found a new artistic endeavor. Working with multiple types of media, he would create sculptures from scraps and trinkets that he called “knick-knacks”. He created hundreds of these sculptures.

He is survived by five children and two grandchildren. Those who knew or loved Bob will dearly miss his jovial and often direct form of friendliness. The family will be hosting a celebration of life gathering at Bob’s homestead on Sunday, September 24, 2023. All are welcome to attend.