Obituaries for Thursday, December 5, 2019

DOUGLAS E. NIEDT

WATERVILLE – Douglas Edward Niedt, 58, of Waterville, unexpectedly passed away on Friday November 1, 2019. Douglas was born in Oakland, California, December 15, 1960, to Edward Richard Niedt and Paula Suzanne (Rawlings).

Douglas attended San Lorenzo High and eventually landed a job at a local printing company before later joining the U.S. Navy.

During his time in the military, Douglas primarily specialized in aviation fuels maintenance and navy law enforcement and received multiple awards including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He was especially proud of volunteer work performed while stationed abroad.

Douglas enjoyed helping others and in his spare time he sometimes enjoyed working on cars.

Douglas is survived by his wife Hafida; son, Dustin; father, Edward; mother, Paula; his uncle, Jim; sisters, Leslie, Kim, Heidi and Christy; many nieces and nephews; his wife’s family.

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 www.gallantfh.com.

DONALD G. O’KEEFE

NORTH VASSALBORO – Donald G. O’Keefe, 92, passed away on Saturday, November, 2, 2019, at Maine Medical Center, Portland. He was born on August 11, 1927, in North Vassalboro, the son of William Francis and Adelaide Marie (Perry) O’Keefe.

He was married for 71 years to the former Betty Philbrick, of Augusta.

He attended North Vassalboro School and graduated from Winslow High School, class of 1944, where he played football, baseball and basketball. He loved sports and was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. He worked in various mills, American Woolen, in North Vassalboro. A textile mill in Fairfield, New Departure, in Connecticut, Ladd Paper and Horizon Foods, in Fairfield.

He was predeceased by four brothers, William Jr., Raymond, Cloronce, Ronald and sister, Marjorie.

Donald leaves, his wife Betty, a daughter Jeannie O’Keefe; a son Tommy O’Keefe and grandson Ryan O’Keefe, all of North Vassalboro; two nephews, Raymond O’Keefe and wife Nancy, of Florida, Michael O’Keefe, of Virginia; two nieces, Patricia O’Keefe, of Winslow, and Bridget and husband Ron Condon, of Brunswick.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at www.gallantfh.com.

SHIRLEY A. BOURGET

WINSLOW – Shirley A. (Coleman) Bourget passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 7, 2019, following a long battle with Dementia.

Shirley was originally from Sacramento, California, and moved to the Winslow and Augusta area 50 years ago. She worked at Hathaway Shirt Factory and Walmart, both in Waterville, but her full commitment was being a homemaker and loving mother. Shirley took pride in her heritage of Native American (Cherokee).

She enjoyed her dog, Maxwell, her three cats, crafting, and family times.

She was predeceased by her parents, Sam and Gertrude.

Shirley will be missed by her children, Danny and his partner, Marlene, Jack, Al Jr., Jeff and his partner, Kathy, Ken and his wife, Amy, and her daughter and caretaker, Terrie and her partner, Greg; her sister, Norma; her grandchildren, Timothy and his wife, Serena, John Jr., Kurt and his wife, Ashley, Felicia, MacKenzie, Alli, Abbi, Allan, Evan, Natalie, Dustin, Thomas, and Joseph; her great-grandchildren, Caleb, Lucas, Brooklynn, Selina, Amiah, Aubrie, Kianna, and Emric; extended family, Paige, Keron, Samantha, Nicholas, Bridgett, and Alfred Sr.; her friend, Sandy; many nieces and other extended family members.

A celebration of Shirley’s life with visiting hours will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the Fairfield American Legion from 3 to 5 p.m.

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

MILDRED SABATINE

WHITEFIELD – Mildred Sabatine, 83, passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2019, following a courageous battle with cancer. Mildred was born in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, to Lydia and Fritz Schuh.

She attended Kutztown University where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. While at Kutztown she met Onofrio “Nerf” Sabatine. They married on August 24, 1957.

Millie and Nerf built their first home on Old Sleepy Hollow Road in Pocantico Hill, New York, where they raised their three children Lisa, Paul, and Nicholas. While in New York their organic farm included produce, livestock, and Millie’s first attempts at cheese making. Their success as farmers awarded them billing on the cover page of the fall 1970 issue of Organic Gardening Magazine.

In 1976 Millie and her family relocated to their 90-acre farm in Whitefield. There she perfected the craft of mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan cheese making from milk produced on the farm. Over the next 15 years Millie’s cheese was marketed at the Damariscotta Farmer’s Market, Yellow Front Grocery Store, and Rising Tide Whole Foods, in addition to drop in customers at the farm. During her cheese making career Millie was interviewed and highlighted in the local press, and was once the subject of Cliff Reynolds’s People Places and Things. Millie and Nerf were pioneers in the “farm to table” life style.

Throughout her life Millie was known for her love of swimming, her competitive spirit, her flower gardens, love of show tunes, Monday trips to Reny’s and the Gardiner Library, and her love of family gatherings.

Millie is survived by her husband of 62 years; her children, Lisa and Nicholas Sabatine; daughter-in-law. Donna Sabatine; five grandchildren, Kelsea, Kate, and Kaleb Bridgham, and Sam and Henry Sabatine.

She was predeceased by her son, Paul, on Dec. 1, 2016.

Memories and condolences may be shared @ www.directcremationofmaine.com.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Gardiner Public Library, 151 Water St., Gardiner, ME 04345, or the Sussman Hospice House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport, ME 04856.

SHIRLEYANNE RATAJCZAK-LEAMAN

WATERVILLE – Shirleyanne Ratajczak-Leaman, 72, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2019. She had been in hospice care at Glennridge Comfort Care, in Augusta, for five days at the end of 10 years of breast cancer. For this period of time she was symptom free of the affliction. She passed peacefully in her sleep, her husband Richard was by her side. Shirleyanne was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1947.

She graduated from Germantown High School and upon moving to Maine attended the University of Maine, Orono, and the University of Maine, Farmington, where she took her masters degree in art history. She taught art at Nokomis High School, in Newport.

Shirleyanne moved to Waterville some 40 years ago and bought a home on Colonial Street, she had been married to Richard Ratajczak-Leaman for 34 years. They have two sons, Michael, 41, of Ringoes, New Jersey, and Richard, 32, who lives in Waterville.

She was an accomplished artist, fabricating hanging weavings that incorporated mixed materials often added by onlookers. She loved gardening and cooking. One month before her death Shirleyanne and her son, Richard, took a motor trip to visit her brother, Stephen Ratajczak, from Virginia Beach, and her niece Carla Mutone, of Chesapeake, Virginia. She has a brother, Donald Ratajczak, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

ROBERT A. HATCH

UNITY – Robert A. Hatch, 72, died unexpectedly Thursday, November 14, 2019, at a Waterville Hospital. He was born October 2, 1947, in Skowhegan, the son of Lloyd W. and Thelma (Whitney) Hatch.

Robert graduated from high school in 1966 and immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps serving for three years.

When he returned from the service he worked as a dairy farmer at the job he loved the most, the Robert Elwell Farm, in Unity, for 30 years.

He enjoyed watching the New England Patriots, and old black and white cowboy movies.

Robert is survived by his mother, Thelma Hubbard, of Palmyra; four sons, Eric Hatch and his wife Jamie, of Dixmont, William Hatch and significant other Melissa Braley, of Dixmont, Matthew Hatch and his significant other Michelle Braley, of Dixmont, and Robert A. Hatch II, of Plymouth; a brother, Richard Hatch and his wife Diane, of Florida; a sister, Michelle MacManus and husband Leonard, of New Brunswick, Canada. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Diana Stewart; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Lloyd Hatch; sister, Gloria, Hatch; his stepfather, John Hubbard; and two stepbrothers.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Brown Funeral Home, 34 High St., Newport.

To sign an online guest book and leave written condolences please visit: www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com

LINDA G. HARDING

ALBION – Linda Gloria (Pooler) Harding, 73, passed away Monday, November 18, 2019, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. She was born December 22, 1945, in Waterville, the daughter of Daniel B. and Alice G. (Butler) Pooler.

She attended the schools of Waterville and graduated from Waterville High School in 1964. On November 26, 1974, she married Neal Harding, in Waterville.

Linda was employed for many years at the Muskie Center, in Waterville, as a secretary, then as a certified nurse’s aide at Lakewood Manor Nursing Home, in Waterville, and the Augusta Mental Institute, in Augusta. She was a member of the Albion Jehovah’s Witnesses Hall. She will be dearly remembered for her unwavering faith in Jehovah and her joy in sharing the good news from the Bible with others. Linda enjoyed horses, riding, and going to auctions and yard sales.

Linda is survived by her husband of 44 years, Neal Harding, of Albion; son, Daniel B. Doucette; grandson, Jonathan Doucette; two sisters, Donna J. (Pooler) Mantin and husband Dennis, and Majorie A. (Pooler) Handly and husband Craig; brother, Daniel B. Pooler.

She was predeceased by her son, Ronald P.J. Doucette; parents; two sisters, Pamela (Pooler) Pratt and Nance (Pooler) Hewins.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 7, 2019, at 1 p.m., at the Albion Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Route 137/9, in Albion.

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations in Linda’s memory to the Albion Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

BARBARA A. MESERVIE

FAIRFIELD – Barbara A. Meservie, 56, passed away unexpectedly in her home, on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. She was born on November 2, 1963, in Waterville, the daughter of Gloria A. Robinson and the late Alan A. Sabins, of Fairfield.

She attended Lawrence High School, in Fairfield, graduating with the class of 1983.

After she finished high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Walter L. Meservie, and they raised two children. Following his passing at an early age, she raised them on her own for several years.

Barbara enjoyed many things; helping people out when she could. She enjoyed working in the food pantry, doing crafts, going camping, and fishing. She loved being a firekeeper at pow-wow’s (Native American Gatherings), and loved to go on walks in nature, but her most favorite thing of all was spending time with her family and having big cook outs.

She was predeceased by Walter L. Meservie, her husband of ten years; and her father, Alan A. Sabins.

Barbara is survived by her mother, Gloria A Robinson; her daughter, Barbara Ann and her spouse, Conrad Edwards Jr. and their three boys; her son, Walter L Meservie and his wife, Amy and their four children; two brothers, Alan (Buddy) Sabins and his companion, and James (Jimmy) Sabins and his wife and their two children; a son-in-law, Derrick Berry; her native walk beside of seven years, John Gray; along with her many uncles and aunts; nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 29 at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. Burial will take place in the spring.

An online guestbook may be signed, and memories shared at www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com

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

ADELBERT M. CARNEY

SOUTH CHINA – Adelbert M., a.k.a. “Del,” Carney, 98, of Route 3, South China, died Thursday, November 21, 2019, at VA Maine Healthcare Center, at Togus, following a brief illness. He was born in Pownal, on February 3, 1921, the son of Francis Carney and Edith (Reed) Carney.

Mr. Carney served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Prior to his retirement in 1989, he was employed as maintenance and operations foreman for the General Services Administration for 34 years.

Mr. Carney was a member of St. Michael Parish and Maine Antique Tractor Club.

His wife, Jacqueline (Beaulieu) Carney, predeceased him on September 4, 2015. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Marie Potrepka and Jennie Sharp; four brothers: Calvin Carney, William Carney, Charles Carney and Couver Carney; two sons, Adelbert “Sonny” Carney and Arthur Carney, and one grandchild, Jeffery Carney.

He is survived by five grandchildren: Dennis, Scott, Michael, Jean and Kimberly; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may visit from 6-8 p.m., on Friday, November 29, at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, Maine, where a funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, November 30, 2019. Burial will be in Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta, at a later date.

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

PATRICK J. FLEMING

OAKLAND – Patrick J. Fleming, retired Colonel of the Maine State Police, 56, of Oakland, passed away Friday, November 22, 2019. He was born in Lewiston, February 13, 1963, the son of William P. and Alice (Malloy) Fleming.

He grew up in Auburn and Hampden.

He graduated from Hampden Academy in 1981. Following high school, he attended Brandeis University, in Waltham, Massachusetts. Patrick joined the Maine State Police in 1984, and served honorably until his retirement as colonel in 2011. During his career as a trooper, he accomplished numerous career, and personal goals. He obtained associate, and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Maine at Augusta. As well as a master’s in business administration from Thomas College, in Waterville, in 2012. Following his career with the State Police, Patrick went on to become the director of the Gambling Control Board. Where he worked until his retirement in 2016.

In addition to his career of being a public servant to the state of Maine, he was well known for his coaching abilities, athletic competitiveness, commitment to his family, and sense of humor. Throughout his life, Pat enjoyed coaching his sons in multiple sports. When he wasn’t coaching them, he and Norleen enjoyed supporting them, the remainder of their athletic careers including following them to games in and out of state.

Pat and Norleen lived in Fairfield for 30 years, before moving to their cottage after retirement. Pat was a strong supporter of family, friends, and colleagues. He was the logistics guy, planning family trips and events. The go-to person for answers, and sound reasoning, and a role model on and off the basketball court. His quick wit and humor were always evident. He was a loving husband, good dad; coach and he’ll be deeply missed.

Patrick was predeceased by his father; grandparents; and in-laws.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Norleen (Burns) Fleming; his sons, Daniel, who is currently stationed in Hawaii, and Isiah, of Oakland; mother, Alice Fleming, of Winslow; his brothers, Michael and his wife, Patricia, of Walpole, Massachusetts, Stephen, of Roslindale, Massachusetts, John and his wife, Kandice, of Waterville, Brian and his wife, Gretchen, of Bangor, and David and his wife, Sally, of Bangor; his aunt, Anne M. (Fleming) Fonz, of Barcelona, Spain; his sister-in-law, Dawn Gross, and her partner Sandy Crowe, of Norridgewock; brother-in-law, Robert Burns and his wife Rose, of Sheridan, Wyoming; as well as 18 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Saturday December 7, 2019 at 1 p.m.

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

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the EHE Foundation, Attn., Julie Wahl, 1561 Hopi Court, Hobard, Wisconsin, 54313, online at Donate Now!, or to your local hospice organization.

WAYNE A LEE SR.

CLINTON – Wayne A. Lee, Sr., 84, passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2019, at Northern Lights Health Care, in Bangor. He was born September 3, 1935, in Danforth, the son of Hermon and Edith (Muncey) Lee.

He worked in several local mills before getting his Class A license and driving a truck for commercial companies.

Wayne is survived by sons, Wayne A. Lee, Jr. and wife Wendy, of China, Timothy A. Lee, Sr. and wife Mary, of Winslow, Randy Lee, of Clinton; daughter Melody Fitzpatrick and husband Andy, of Clinton; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by four brothers, and six sisters.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

EZELDA P. PRESCOTT

WHITEFIELD – Ezelda Patricia Prescott, 89, died Tuesday, November 26, 2019, at her home, in Whitefield. Ezelda was born April 19, 1930, in Gardiner, the daughter of Frank and Rena (Brown) Mason.

She was educated in Gardiner schools and then moved to Whitefield with her husband Elmer Linwood Prescott where they raised their family. Ezelda also provided childcare for many local children for over 50 years. She enjoyed spending time during the summers at their family camp on Clary Lake, in Whitefield.

Ezelda was predeceased by her brothers Leroy Mason, Russell Mason and Frankie Mason and wife Sarah; and half-sister Doris Barrett, Archie Barrett, Joe and Marion Mason.

She is survived by her five children Ronald Rollins, Carol Young and husband Steven, Deanne Crocker and husband Steven, Dennis Prescott and Troy Prescott; three brothers Ernest Mason and wife Mary, of Gardiner, Cedric Mason and wife Beverly, of Whitefield, and Roger Mason and wife Carlene, of Lisbon Falls; nine grandchildren, Ronald E. Rollins and wife Kari, Brandy Hodgkins and husband Dan, Tara Plante and husband Toni, Chad Armstrong, Shane Young, Michelle Young and partner Melissa, Ashley Prescott, Jenny Stanhope and husband Seth, and Morgan Britto and husband Aaron; 11 great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, December 7, from 10 – 11 a.m. at Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, Maine.

A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. A Spring burial will be in Highland Cemetery, in Jefferson.

Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, Maine.

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

Memorial donations may be made to:Alzheimer’s Association of Maine 383 US Route One #2C Scarborough, ME 04074.