OBITUARIES for Thursday, December 23, 2021

LAWRENCE ERVING SR.

WINDSOR – Lawrence “Larry” Erving, Sr., 84, passed away on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, following a brief illness. Larry was born in Chelsea, grew up in Gardiner, and raised his family and worked as an electrician at Digital Equipment Corporation, for 20 years, in Ashland, Massachusetts, before returning to Maine with his wife and youngest son in 1993.

Larry loved hunting and fishing and camping with family. He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and you could always find a puzzle in progress in his home. He liked old-school country music, such as Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. He loved taking pictures of family and friends, as evidenced by the dozens of crates of photo albums in his home. He was an avid fan of the Wiscasset Speedway. A typical Leo, he loved being the center of attention. More than anything, he loved to laugh and to try to make others laugh and smile too.

Larry was predeceased by his wife Linda, in September 2020.

He is survived by his children, daughter Angela Erving and her fiancé “Cowboy” John Lindsey, of Oregon; sons Larry Erving Jr. and his wife Sarah, of Massachusetts, and John Erving and his wife Linda, of Maine; his grandchildren, Shawn and Hannah Busker (and Hannah’s fiancé Mark Eyssalem), of Massachusetts, Lily and Holly Erving, of Massachusetts, Lee Cole and Tyrah Erving, of Maine, Justin (and his family) and John Lindsey Jr (and John Jr’s fiancée Michaela Grenham), of Oregon; one brother, Charlie Erving, of Indiana, and many brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

AMY J. MESSIER

VASSALBORO – Amy J. Messier, 59, passed away following a brief illness on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor. She was born June 7, 1962, in Providence, Rhode Island, the daughter of Raymond and Lucille (Charnock) Messier.

During her life, she held various clerical and administrative positions, working her way up to Human Resources Director, but most loved and was proud of her work as wildlife rehabilitation technician. Amy had a deep love for all animals and had a special connection with Native American culture. She volunteered at many wildlife rehabilitation centers thoughout the country including North Carolina and Wisconsin, but mostly here in Maine at The Wildlife Care Center, in Vassalboro. She spent her time daily cleaning cages, feeding abandoned, sick, and injured animals, nursing them to health so they could be released back into the wild.

Amy is survived by sisters, Cindy Laforge, of Clinton, Diane Myers and husband Jimmy, of Ocala, Florida; brothers, Raymond Messier and wife Susan, of Ft. Pierce, Florida, Allan Kennedy, of Rutland, Vermont; nieces, Andrea Howe and husband Bob, of Pleasant Ridge Plantation, Amber Costa and husband Chris, of Florida, Zoe Kennedy Aumick and husband Chris, of New Jersey, Meghan Kennedy, of Vermont; nephews, Josh Edmundson, of Orlando, Florida, Chris Santos, of Surprise, Arizona, Corey Kennedy, of Vermont, William Kennedy, of Vermont, and Wyatt Howe, of Pleasant Ridge Plantation.

A Celebration of Life will be held in June 2022 at the convenience of the family. Notification will be via Facebook and all who loved her are welcome.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations in Amy’s memory to The Wildlife Care Center, 1787 N. Belfast Ave., Vassalboro, ME 04989.

MARK E. McPHETERS

FAIRFIELD – Mark Edward McPheters, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 6, 2021. Mark was born January 8, 1931, in Waterville, to Carroll and Gertrude McPheters.

Mark attended and graduated from Lawrence High School, in Fairfield. He served in the U.S. Army and in the Korean War. In 1955 he married Roberta “Bobbie” Dunn, and were married for 62 years.

Mark was the owner of McPheters Garage, a landmark in downtown Fairfield for many years. Mark was a member of the Free Masons and The Shriners, as well as the Clinton Lions Club and the Waterville Chess Club. His passion late in life was for the Fairfield Historical Society and the First Baptist Church, in Waterville. If he wasn’t home cooking, gardening or reading, you could find him lending a helping hand at the “history house” or at church.

Mark had a love of books and art. He kept his most treasured books by author, poet Holman Day of Vassalboro by his side until his final days.

Mark was preceded in death by his wife Bobbie McPheters.

He is survived by his son, Mark McPheters II and his wife Lynn, of Richmond; his daughter, Mary Scanlon and her husband Neil, of Bethel; his sister-in-law, Mary Merrick and her husband Jimmy, of Fairfield; and nieces Barbara Guimond and Lenette MacDonald and their families; his grandchildren Kaitlin Hilchey, Benjamin McPheters, Cody-Ann Scanlon and Cassidy Scanlon; and four great-grandchildren.

You are invited to offer your condolences and share fond memories with the family by visiting Mark’s guestbook at http://www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com.

Committal services will be held at a future date in the spring at Pine Grove Cemetery, in Waterville.

A service of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home, 8 Elm St., Waterville, ME 04901. 207-872-7676

In remembrance of Mark’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Fairfield Historical Society, 42 High St, Fairfield, Maine.

EUGENE A. MORRISON

BENTON – Eugene A. Morrison, 84, died peacefully on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Glenridge Nursing Home, in Augusta. Eugene was born on May 5, 1937, in Hartland, a son of the late Stillman and Mildred (Wade) Morrison.

He graduated from Hartland Academy with the class of 1955 and went on to work as an oil truck driver for John McMann. He began his under graduate work and received his master’s degree from the University of Maine in Orono. He served as a principal for many years with MSAD #49.

Gene was a very likable guy and social. He had many friends. A terrific painter and collector of Civil War memorabilia. He was also a very good carpenter and built his own home with the help of his three sons. He was a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge, Fairfield Chapter, Siloam #92, A.F. & A.M.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Judith Sawtelle Morrison, of Benton; three sons, Eugene “Allen” Morrison II, of Benton, Todd Morrison and wife Lynne, of North Yarmouth, and Trevor Morrison, of De’Pere, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Connor, Dylan, Hailee, Katie, Maghan, and Jack; brother, Donald Morrison and wife Virginia, of Palmyra; and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; and a brother, Franklin Morrison.

A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2022 at the Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, in Pittsfield, with a committal following at the Pine Grove Cemetery, in Hartland.

To leave a message of kindness or to share a memory, please visit http://www.shoreynichols.com.

Care has been provided by Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, Pittsfield.

DOROTHY A. BROWN

OAKLAND – Dorothy Alice Brown, 90, passed away on Sunday, December 12, 2021, in Waterville. She was born December 27, 1930, to Gordon and Evelyn Boyles, in Fairfield.

She began her education in a one room schoolhouse in Weeks Mills and then North Belgrade until fourth grade when she transferred to Oakland. She graduated from Williams High School, in Oakland, in 1948. While in high school she worked after school and Saturdays at Diamond International, in the mill, in Oakland. Shortly after graduation she became the private secretary to the mill manager.

Dorothy married Russell P. Brown on March 19, 1950. She continued to work for a few years until her family grew at which time she retired from the workforce. With Russell by her side, they operated the family dairy farm on the Belgrade Road until 1972 when they finally sold the herd. She continued to work side by side with her husband as a team in construction, building many lovely homes in Oakland and across the state.

She was a member of the Oakland Extension and served on the Kennebec County Extension board for several years. She belonged to the United Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and was chairman of the Ladies Circle for many years. She joined Cascade Grange in 1945 and was very active her entire life. She will be remembered as “the pie lady” at the public suppers that the Grange put on. She was also a member of Kennebec Pomona No 4. She was secretary of the Pomona and Cascade Grange for 26 years. Russell and Dorothy were State Youth Directors for the Maine State Grange for eight years. She was program Director of the State Grange for eight years and State Grange Treasurer for ten years. She was a member of the National Grange Lecturers Advisory Committee for four years. She has been active in both Mt. Philip Grange No. 545 and Somerset Pomona Grange No. 6.

Russell and Dorothy enjoyed taking the motor home and seeing the continental U.S., managing to make it to most all of them over the years.

Dorothy was always doing handwork, knitting, crocheting Afghans and sweaters for the family. She made beautiful crewel and counted cross stitch pieces and made quilts for family members or wedding gifts for friends. She enjoyed spending time with Kelly teaching her the craft of quilting and trips to 5 Guys.

She was predeceased by husband Russell; daughter Susan Church; grandson Andrew Brown; and her youngest sister Norma Rice and Clyde Berry close family friend.

She is survived by her children, son Roger Brown and wife Patricia, daughter Ellen Clarke, son Peter Brown and wife Patricia, all of Oakland; seven grandchildren, Julie Damico and husband Anthony, Geoffrey Church and wife Elizabeth, Nicholas Jurdak and wife Lynn, Jonathan Brown and wife Lindsey, Brandon Brown and wife Ashley, Ryan Brown, and Katelyn Lovejoy; sister, Patricia Towne and husband Charles; many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great nieces/nephews.

Services will be private. Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband, Russell, at Lakeview Cemetery, in Oakland.

Arrangements are in the care of the Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St. Oakland, where condolences may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Oakland Public Library or charity of your choice.

BARBARA J. MASKELL

WATERVILLE – Barbara Jean Maskell, 77, passed away Sunday, December 12, 2021, at home. Barbara was born June 5, 1944, in Waterville, the daughter of Edward and Madeline Jolicoeur (Giguere).

She married Donald Maskell in 1974 in Waterville. They resided in Oakland for many years before building their dream retirement home in Waterville.

Barbara worked for Budget Rent a Car at the Waterville airport for many years, and later worked for the State of Maine, in Augusta, for eight years prior to retiring.

Barbara, affectionately known as Nana to her 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, will be sorely missed. Always the caring, compassionate wife, mother and grandmother, Nana accepted everyone, and always made people feel comfortable. A woman of strong Catholic faith, she was an example of how to live a Christian life. She will be remembered by family and friends as a humble and loving soul who always treated others with dignity and respect.

Barbara enjoyed gardening and taking day trips to the coast or through the countryside. She valued family time above all and visiting with and hearing all about the children and grandchildren. She was always focusing on someone other than herself. Even during her last days, she was concerned solely about her family’s well-being.

Barbara was predeceased by her father, Edward Jolicoeur; her mother, Madeline Jolicoeur; and her son, Scott Raymond Landry.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Donald Maskell; her sons, Randall Landry and his wife Jeannine, and Marc Landry and his wife Lynn; her 11 grandchildren; three-great grandchildren; her brothers, Thomas Jolicoeur and his wife, Marlene, and Kenneth Jolicoeur and his wife Sharon, Daniel Jolicoeur; her sister Betty Gomm; and ten nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, in Waterville, Maine.

Arrangements are in the care of the Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St. Oakland, where condolences may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

CAMILLA GAUTHIER

NAPA, Calif. – Camilla Gauthier, 78, passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, in Napa, California. Camilla was born on January 28, 1943, in Waterville, to Lucien (Happy) and Rose Rodrigue Gregoire.

She spent her childhood years in Waterville and Winslow and graduated from Mt. Merci Academy, in Waterville, in 1961. Upon her graduation, she worked at Federal Trust Co., in Waterville, until her marriage in November 1962 to Roger Gauthier, whom she joined through a 20-year military career. They lived in Maryland, Germany, Florida and Massachusetts.

For many years she was a homemaker, after which she worked for Equitable Trust, in Maryland, and Hodges Theater, in Massachusetts. Upon her return to Maine, she worked for 18 years at Key Bank, in Winslow and Fairfield. For the last several years, she worked with Sodexo in the catering department of Colby College, in Waterville. She was also a volunteer at Maine General Medical Center, in Waterville.

Camilla was a devoted wife and mother, always concerned about the well being of her family. She especially enjoyed visiting with all her children and grandchildren and joining them on many trips. She also enjoyed spending time with her cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Surviving are her sons, Rodney and wife Maria, of Martinez, California, Paul and wife Kimberly, of Elk Grove, California, John and wife Jill, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and daughter Rachel McDaniel and husband Douglas, of Napa, California; ten grandchildren, Anthony, Kelsey, Olivia, Gabriel, Jacob, Jessica, Jenna, Jocelyn, Jared and Jayce Gauthier; five great-grandchildren, Bentley and Beckham Gauthier, Reagan and Oakley Connor and Denali Rodriguez; her bother Ronald and sister-in-law Brenda, of Peoria, Arizona.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John Catholic Church, in Winslow, on Thursday, December 23, after which burial took place at St. Francis Cemetery, Waterville.

Arrangements are in the care of the Lawry Brother’s Funeral Home, 107 Main Street, Fairfield, where condolences may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Harold Alfond Cancer Center, 361 Old Belgrade, Augusta, ME 04330 or St. Jude’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

JERRY T. RIDEOUT SR.

JEFFERSON – Jerry T. Rideout Sr., 74, died unexpectedly at his home. He was born in Augusta on February 19, 1947, a son of the late James T. and Charlotte E. (Davis) Rideout.

Mr. Rideout attended Augusta schools and had been employed by DeCoster Egg Farms for over 16 years.

He was a member of the Fellowship Christian Church.

Mr. Rideout is survived by his wife of 53 years, Bonita E. (Glidden) Rideout, of Jefferson; two sons, Jerry T. Rideout, Jr. and his wife Georgene, of Pittston, and James Rideout, of Jefferson; his daughter, Lori Hesseltine, of Corinth; four brothers, Robert Rideout, of Whitefield, James Rideout, of Belgrade, Benny Rideout, of Chelsea, and Maurice Rideout, of Norridgewock; two sisters, Nora and Ruby Rideout, both of South Carolina; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be no public visiting hours or funeral services.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Rd., Rt. 32, Windsor, Maine.

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

MELANIE A. EDWARDS

WATERVILLE – Melanie Anne (Greenleaf) Edwards, 73, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Born in Waterville on March 25, 1948, she was the youngest of the four children of Geraldine D. (Condee} Greenleaf and Jesse T. Greenleaf, of Oakland. She would graduate from Williams High School in 1966, and go on to working her way through the University of Maine, Orono. When partly through, she would meet Bradford W. Edwards, of Greenville, at her brother’s wedding, and they would marry and have two sons, Daemon W. Edwards, and Adam T. Edwards, both serving their country and working for their higher educations.

In Greenville, Melanie and Brad raised their family, including their part-wolf dog, Zelda; made maple syrup; participated in skiing and other outdoor recreation, Brad was involved in the white-water rafting business, summers, when he wasn’t teaching. Melanie volunteered for community affairs, worked outside her home at times, helped a carpenter build their home from an outbuilding of what had originally been the Blair Hill self-sustaining manor off Lily Bay Road, high on the eastern side of Moosehead Lake, belonging then to her in-laws, while also caring for her two young sons. She and Brad lived in various Maine places other than Greenville and the Bangor area, Winterport, Milbridge, Vinalhaven, this later being a particular happiness for Melanie.

When her sons were nearly grown, Melanie’s marriage ended. Therefore, in her mid-to-later 30s, she moved to Bangor to go to Beal College and, by doing classes full-time and working full-time, she earned both an associate degree and the training to become a medical assistant. In fact, Melanie helped Beal begin a school/work program, from her own needs at that time. And when working at an emergency walk-in clinic while in school, she met a girlfriend Mary and a doctor they both admired, such that they would help him start his practice in New Hampshire, remain with him for several years and learn much from him.

However, just prior to finishing college, Melanie met her significant other, Lawrence A. Davis, originally from Athens/Dexter, and they would actually have a daughter, Alexi E. Edwards-Davis (now Alexi Draconis, with husband Peter, in Waterville). A generation later, Melanie and Larry would help Alexi and her first husband, Robert Kaczorowski, to raise their daughter, Melanie’s and Larry’s granddaughter, Joclynn Amber. But when their daughter was a young child, Melanie and Larry would move to Massachusetts where her older sister lived and where Melanie would work long years in another doctor’s practice until he went elsewhere in Massachusetts. Melanie chose then for employment at Walmart pharmacy down there until Alexi graduated high school and she would retire from working. At this point, Melanie and Larry wanted to return to Maine, and they relocated in Waterville. At the time of her death, Melanie and Larry had been partners for 37 years.

Melanie is survived by her sister Shannon M. G. Pyne, Augusta; sisters-in-law Carla A. (Traves) Greenleaf, of Oakland, and Linda J. (Atwood) Greenleaf ,of Farmington; cousins Sheila B. (York) Lewis and Linda (Wing) Kinney, both of Tennessee; and Leslie Luther of Missouri; also, other family in Maine, Georgia and Texas.

She was predeceased by her parents; her two older brothers, Gaylon D. Greenleaf and Reigh M. Greenleaf, of Oakland, and Farmington; her maternal aunt Bertha York(and uncle Earl); and the other Luther half-siblings of her mother, aunt Lorena Simons/ Stevens/Scranton; uncle Lloyd and aunt Angie; aunt Loretta Wing and uncle Cliff; her paternal aunt Violet (Greenleaf) Vieta/Norton/Watson, her father’s half-sister; and any other children of the former, not mentioned, but if known of, not forgotten; her maternal and paternal grandmothers, Goldie M. (Bubier) Luther/Condee and Ella F. (Brown) Greenleaf, both last of Oakland.

Melanie was an able homemaker who so loved her children, a wise lady with quiet and gentle ways who always strove for excellence. She loved to read and to design the lovely quilts she endlessly made for others. Giving all she could to her family, when she left us, she had borne her full measure of enough for herself. She wanted no funeral. Instead, her ashes will be simply shared by her family members who will honor and celebrate her as they wish. A portion of her cremains will join her parents’ burial plot in the Oakland Lakeview Cemetery, on Snow Pond, where some of her siblings’ remains will also join their parents, or be nearby, marked by separate stones.

Arrangements are in the care of the Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Oakland, where condolences may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ROBERT FOSTER

A memorial service will be held for Robert “Bob” Foster, on Tuesday, December 28, at 1 p.m., at the MacCrillis-Rousseau VFW Post #3385, on Veterans Dr., in Winslow.

Bob, 88, passed away suddenly on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at JFK International Airport, in New York City, New York. He and his wife Marion were on their way to visit their grandson in Washington state.