OBITUARIES for Thursday, June 8, 2023

ANNE E. HOOD

BENTON – Anne E. Hood, 76, passed away peacefully Saturday April 22, 2023, in her home, following a long courageous battle with cancer. Anne was born on September 22, 1946, in Waterville, the daughter of Albert Lemelin and Bertha Roi.

Anne attended Lawrence High School , in Fairfield, until grade nine, when she had to leave school in order to work to help her family financially. Later in 2008 she proudly received her G.E.D. from Lawrence High School.

Anne worked many jobs in her lifetime, including as woolen mill worker, a school lunch lady as well as owning her own businesses, to include Cupie Doll Second Hand Shop and Golden Unicorn Embroidery, to name a couple. At the end of her working career she enjoyed delivering flowers for Flo’s Flower Cart, in Waterville.

In the summertime Anne enjoyed trips to the coast and longed to have the ocean right out her front door. Anne was also a very crafty person. She enjoyed doing all sorts of crafts, especially embroidery and quilting, which she passed on her skills to her granddaughter Vickie.

She loved to try new projects and was a firm believer in doing it herself and putting a crafty twist on things. Another passion she had was competing in shows with her mini horses Dundee and Shiloh. She also had unconditional love for her mule, Precious, and her dog Princess. Who can forget one of her greatest pleasures later in life was competing in cribbage tournaments. Anne was a member of the Waterville Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #905 for the past five years, where she could be seen playing cribbage or watching her girls play darts on Friday nights.

Anne will be remembered for her extraordinary heart, her compassion, her craftiness and always being on the go, as her granddaughter Vickie nicknamed her “Go Go Grammy”. Anne will also be remembered for her never ending love for her girls, family and friends.

Anne was predeceased by her parents, Albert Lemelin and Bertha Roi, her daughter Lisa Thompson, as well as her brother James Lemelin and sister Mary Lou Lemelin, her husband Vernal Hood Jr., and her stepson Chris Hood.

Anne is survived by her daughters, Tammy and husband Mark Gullifer, of Florida, Denise Pooler and wife Bethany Oliver, of Winslow, and Stephanie and husband Jeff Aucoin, of Fairfield; granddaughter Vickie Pooler; great-grandson Damian Colby and Damian’s father Joshua Colby, all of Waterville; five other grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; her sister Ruth Lemelin, of Florida; stepdaughter Sherry Fernald and husband George, of Benton; and stepdaughter-in-law Jean Hood, of Benton; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday June 4, 2023, at the Waterville Elks Lodge, 76 Industrial St., Waterville.

Her girls ask in lieu of flowers donations be made in Anne’s name to Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

KEITH M. CURTIS

WATERVILLE – Keith Merle Curtis, 94, passed away peacefully, at home, on Sunday, May 14, 2023. He was born on March 28, 1929, in Waterville, the son of Merle Leighton Curtis and Marjorie Curtis(Huard).

Keith graduated from Waterville High School with the class of 1947. After working as a design artist for the Sutherland Sign Co., in Waterville, from 1947 – 1950, Keith enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950, was awarded the National Defense Service and Good Conduct medals and was honorably discharged in 1954.

Keith worked as an electrical engineer for the U.S. Navy, at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, and the Naval Air Station Atlantic City, from 1950 – 1956, and then went on to work for IBM, in East Fishkill, and Poughkeepsie, New York, as an electrical and computer engineer. He helped design, build, and maintain computer hardware for one of the world’s first computers. He was awarded several engineering patents for his work with IBM. He retired after 31 years and moved back to Waterville in 1989, with his wife, to spend a wonderful, very active life in retirement.

For his entire life, Keith was active in community events, sports, clubs, art shows, and he enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting. He excelled in baseball and track at Waterville High School. He was an Eagle Scout – the highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. He achieved a black belt in Tae Kwon Do karate, played volleyball, softball, and bowled in many leagues. He enjoyed running 5K races with the Central Maine Striders. Keith organized a benefit softball team, the “Golden Oldies” with local talent; he participated in the Maine Senior Games and competed in the US Senior Olympics for many years.

Keith was active in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, Trout Unlimited, and was a life member of The American Legion, Bourque-Lanigan Post #5, Waterville. He was a member of the Waterville Area Art Society for 34 years and treasurer for many years. Keith loved painting with pastels. He was passionate about capturing Maine scenery and people. He won Best of Show awards in Maine art shows in 1993, 1994, 1997 and a People’s Choice Award in 2004. Keith was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed camping and fishing with his family and, after retirement, with his wife.

Keith was a man of very high moral standards, empathy, conviction, trustworthiness, patience and understanding. He always considered the well-being of others in everything he did. He was a generous man in mind and spirit. He was very highly respected in the community and he was an exceptional role-model for his children, grandchildren, and his Little Brothers, all of whom he loved and nurtured dearly. His life was a fulfilled life surrounded by peace and comfort at home with his wife Jeannette of 70 years. The memories are enduring, fond, and everlasting.

Keith was predeceased by his father, Merle Leighton Curtis, his mother, Marjorie Curtis(Huard) and by his younger brother, Gary Stillman Curtis.

Keith is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jeannette Veronica Curtis( Michaud), of Waterville; a younger brother Raphael Curtis, of Redding, California; three children including Kathy L. Curtis-Hernandez RN and her spouse Gus Hernandez, of Scottsdale, Arizona, Dr. Scott K. Curtis DVM, of Winslow, and Dr. Craig W. Curtis MD and his spouse Sande Curtis NP, of Dedham; five grandchildren including Justin Curtis Jenkins and his spouse Andrew Foster Shi, of Los Angeles, California, Dr. Kimberly J. Curtis PhD and her partner Ian McDonell, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, Ethan S. Curtis, of Winslow, Dr. Kyle E. Curtis MD and his spouse Erika Curtis, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Marcis I. Curtis, of Dedham; a great-granddaughter, Eloise Curtis, daughter of Kyle and Erika Curtis; nephews including Marc Curtis, of Watsonville, California, Bryan Curtis, of O’Brien, Oregon, Kevin Curtis, and niece Linda Park (Curtis).

Keith will be interred at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery mausoleum with Military Funeral Honors, 143 Blue Star Ave, Augusta, at 2 p.m., on Friday, July 14, 2023. A family gathering will take place immediately following the interment. Keith’s life will be celebrated on Sunday July 16, 2023, at the Oakland American Legion, at 22 Church Street, Oakland.

Arrangements are in the care of Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. Memories may be shared, and an online registry book may be signed by visiting http://www.lawrybrothers.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kennebec Valley, 2351 N Belfast Ave., Augusta, ME 04330. Donations should be in memory of Keith M. Curtis.

PAUL E. TRASK II

CLINTON – Paul E. Trask II, 51, of Clinton, died of accidental drowning Monday, May 22, 2023. He was born November 20, 1971, in Waterville to Paul E. Trask Sr. and Meredith Hews Trask.

He attended local schools and graduated from Lawrence High School, in Fairfield. His primary job was carpentry.

Paul is survived by his mother Meredith Hews Trask, of Clinton; sons, Christian Trask, of Clinton, Dawson Trask, of Waterville; and a daughter Lelia Trask, of Pembroke; grandchildren, Rose and Evan Trask, of Belfast; siblings, Cheryl Gallant, of Woodbridge, Virginia, Vicky Morris and husband Ed, of Benton, William Green and wife Penny, of Winslow, Suzanne Clifford and husband Tim, of Clinton; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father Paul E. Trask Sr., fraternal grandparents Donald and Lelia Trask, maternal grandparents Velma and John Lundbeck, all of Clinton.

Graveside services will be held Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m., Greenlawn Rest Cemetery, Rte. 100, Clinton. Celebration of Life will follow.

JOSEPH P. MENDES

WATERVILLE – Joseph Paul Mendes, 50, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 29, 2023, following a long illness. Joseph was born December 1, 1972, to Alice and Paul Mendes. He graduated in 1992.

Joseph enjoyed time with his family and friends throughout his life. He also enjoyed going to church at St. Francis de Sales and Notre Dame churches, in Waterville. He had a kind heart and always went out of his way to make others happy and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Joseph is survived by his father Paul Mendes, of Waterville; his brother Michael Mendes; and his nieces Bria Ponsant and Kassi Hujara.

A graveside service was held on Wednesday, June 7, at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Grove Street, in Waterville.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home 8 Elm St., Waterville, Maine, 04901.

Please visit http://www.VeilleuxFuneralHome.com to share your condolences with the Mendes family.

REV. ANDREW D. KANE

BELGRADE – The Reverend Andrew D. Kane, 80, of Belgrade, peacefully passed on Friday, May 26, 2023, following a courageous bout with cancer. He was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, to John and Ruby Kane, on May 10, 1943.

After graduating from Chester High School in 1961, he served in the Merchant Marines as a deckhand aboard the USS United States. Known as “Junior” for being one of the youngest on the crew, he learned about people from all walks of life. He received his BA at Eastern Baptist College and Master of Divinity at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1966 he married Janet Miller at the First Presbyterian Church of Chester, Pa., where he had attended as a young man with his family.

Andy began his professional career with Scott Paper Company (in Maine, Alabama, and Pennsylvania) and Fox Morris Associates, in Philadelphia, as a corporate recruiter.

He was called into the ministry while attending the Springfield Baptist Church, in Pennsylvania, where he later served as Associate Pastor under the guidance of Reverend Manuel Avila. Andy, Janet and their young son lived on the campus of Ellen Cushing Junior College, in Pennsylvania, where Janet worked as head resident to enable him to pursue his Master of Divinity degree.

Andy had fallen in love with Maine while working for Scott Paper Company, and in 1973, when the opportunity arose to continue his ministry here, he seized it. Andy was privileged to serve the Lord for 34 years as the pastor of the United Baptist Church of Oakland, a loving church family in a caring community. He belonged to American Baptist Churches of Maine/USA and supported many mission projects throughout his ministry, including serving on the board of China Lake Conference Center.

He was instrumental in starting the Oakland Council of Churches Area Food Cupboard and the Oakland Area Summer Recreation Program. Believing that people of all faiths could love and respect each other and work together, he supported the Oakland Council of Churches and planned many events to gather folks for praise and fellowship.

An advocate for preventative health, he served as president of Healthy Northern Kennebec / a Planned Approach to Community Health for many years. Andy also served in various capacities on the board of the Belgrade Regional Health Center. He found it a profound privilege to serve as State Law Enforcement Chaplain – serving state and local communities.

Andy was truly a man of God – full of faith and love. He was so relatable and available, he could strike up a conversation with anyone and immediately make a connection.

He was an avid reader and lifelong learner – full of knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. He always had a humorous line in any situation, bringing peace, joy and hope in Christ. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Andy was predeceased by his parents and twin sister, Elizabeth.

He is survived by his partner in ministry and wife, Janet, of 56 years; three sons; a daughter-in-law; and ten grandchildren; a brother; and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Monday, June 12, 2023, at The United Baptist Church of Oakland, at 11 a.m., with a visiting hour at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, it was Andy’s wish that you plant a tree, or you may make a donation to the United Baptist Church of Oakland, 45 Church St., Oakland, ME 04963.

LEE J. HARGADON

Brunswick–Lee J. Hargadon, 91, a longtime Maine resident of Brunswick and South China, died peacefully on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Mary Lee Jones was born in New York, New York, on July 14, 1931, and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. She was the daughter of Barbara Jones Haskins and
Wilmot Rufus Jones, Jr., and sister to the late Wilmot Rufus Jones III.

They spent their summers together in the cottage her grandfather built in South China, in 1898.

After attending Wilmington Friends School (with her father as headmaster), George School, Drexel University, and Katharine Gibbs College, Lee married her former husband, Bernard J. Hargadon, Jr., in 1953.

With three children in tow, Lee and her family moved to Medellín, Colombia, where her younger three children were born during the decade that followed. While raising her family she opened her own language translation business, “Lee Limitada.” After moving to Wilton, Connecticut, and later to Walnut Creek, California, Lee settled in Maine in 1987, where she was warmly welcomed by the many people who would become among the most influential and supportive during her long life.

Lee was an avid traveler, photographer, and explorer. She traveled the world extensively with friends and family and was able to visit every continent, including Antarctica. Inspired by the impact these experiences had on her life, she encouraged and supported her grandchildren to travel, see the world, and expand their horizons.

It was in Africa where Lee discovered her talent for photography, but Maine was her muse. Her body of work became widely collected and exhibited in galleries, including at the State House, in Augusta. Later she shared her photographs with friends on notecards, always favoring handwritten letters over email, with images that were reminders of the things and places that were important to her. Lee described her practice simply: “Often, less is more.”

Lee enjoyed the companionship of her beloved dogs over the years, as well as tracking birds that visited her well-stocked feeders. She cared about all creatures and supported a variety of animal and wildlife causes during her lifetime. She particularly cherished visits with friends at “Lake Hour” on the porch of The Leaning Elm – the cottage that remains in the family today because of her commitment to family and tradition. Above all, Lee believed it was “nice to be together.”

Lee is survived by four children, Geoff, his wife, Patricia La Valley, and their children Ashley Johnston and Stephanie Rogers; Bob, his wife, Tracy Kellum, and their children Mia Tankoos and Ellis Hargadon; Louise and her children Robert O’Neill and Lauren Moesel; David, his wife Suzi, and their children Courtney Button, Trevor, Joseph, and Michael Hargadon; five great-grandchildren..

She was predeceased by her two other children, Mary Lee (d. 1962) and Larry (d. 1982).

A celebration of Lee Hargadon’s life will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to China Lake Association.

Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brackettfh.com.

HOWARD L. EHRLICH
ANN E. EHRLICH

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – Howard Louis Ehrlich, 96, passed away in St. Petersburg, Florida, on November 29, 2022. His wife, Ann Edwards Ehrlich, 94, passed away in South China on November 2, 2021. Howard was born to Etta and Louis Ehrlich on January 21, 1926, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Ann was born to Johanna and John Edwards on August 14, 1927, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

The two attended Coughlin High School, in Wilkes-Barre, and met at a Halloween party when they were in their early teens. Howard graduated high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After Ann graduated from high school, the two were married on January 9, 1946, first living in Norfolk, Virginia, while Howard was stationed there. Ann worked as an admin for the U.S. Navy and was incidentally the clerk tasked with typing Howard’s discharge papers.

Howard graduated from University of Scranton and went on to teach, first in Salem, New Jersey, and later in Washington, New Jersey, upon their relocation to that town. He left teaching to begin selling real estate and later he and Ann opened their own real estate and insurance agency in Washington which they operated until their retirement.

The two were passionate about ballroom dancing and filled their free time with lessons and group dances. They later went on to teach dancing which included serving as dance instructors on cruise lines.

In 1999, the two moved to South China to be with their daughter and grandchildren and continued dancing locally.

They were members of the South China Community Church and also regular patrons of the South China Library. Ann spent hours quietly helping people in need, both in New Jersey and Maine. Howard enjoyed life in South China and often could be found having coffee with friends at Greg’s, Dog Days and China Dine-ah while making his rounds at local businesses. Aside from his fondness for woodworking and antiques, Howard will always be remembered for his quick wit, relentless charm, and expansive vocabulary.

Ann was predeceased by her siblings Madeline, Jack and Lois. Howard was predeceased by his sisters Evelyn and Dorothy. They are survived by their daughter, Kimberley Ehrlich, of South China; and three grandchildren Micah Bloom, Jonah Bloom and his wife Amy, and Kalyn Van Valkenburgh; many nieces, and nephews.

A graveside service will be held for Howard, on Friday, June 16, at 2:30 p.m., at the China Cemetery Extension, where Ann was laid to rest in November 2021. If you would like to honor their memory, please consider a donation to the South China Library, P.O. Box 417, South China, Maine 04358.

Arrangements are under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor, Maine.

AWILDA S. GONZALEZ

WINSLOW – Awilda Santos Gonzalez was a wonderful woman. She was a caring, supportive, loving friend, sister, mother of eight, grandmother of 35, and great-grandmother of 19 children. She was definitely the matriarch of the family which she raised.

She will be missed and, in fact, is missed immensely already. The family not only lost a mom but an advisor, mentor, and companion. The time spent with her is truly missed and will continue to be until the day they are reunited once again.

Arrangements are under the care of Dan and Scott’s Funeral and Cremation Care 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976.