OBITUARIES for Thursday, September 7, 2023

LARRY DENIS

TUCSON, Arizona – Larry Denis, 69, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 13, 2023. Larry was born on March 10, 1954, in Water­ville. He grew up in the area once known as Head of Falls. He has resided in Arizona for 32 years.

He was predeceased by his parents Wilfred and Helen Denis; a sister Mary Dyke, a brother Michael Denis; and grandson Zyah Denis.

He is survived by his wife and love of his life Lynne; sons Chad and Zachary Denis; and daughters Casey Perkins and Veronica Hunt; brothers Ronnie and wife Terry, Steve Denis; sisters Nancy Wilmot and husband Peter, Deborah Trepanier, Susan Coates and husband Ed.

There will be no services at this time. A celebration of life will be held at a future date at Head of Falls. Those interested in attending should contact Susan Coates.

KENNETH P. McCAUGHEY

WATERVILLE – Kenneth Paul McCaughey, 79, passed away early Saturday morning, August 19, 2023. He was born in Pro­vidence, Rhode Island, May 27, 1944, the son of Kenneth and Rita Mc­Caughey (Dubuque).

Kenny graduated from Waterville High School in 1962. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country from 1963-1967.

Kenny loved his family and friends. His pride and joy were his two daughters and two grandsons. He was always quick with a story or a piece of wisdom. He was present for his family and his circle of friends. Kenny lived his life with a clear direction and expected the same of those he loved. His beliefs were rock solid and his love for family was unwavering.

Kenny was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Rita.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his daughter, Deborah and grandson Logan; his daughter Kristin and grandson Drew; his sister Ruth Crane, and his cousin Sharmon McCaughey.

GENE PAULETTE

WATERVILLE – Gene Paulette, 79, passed away Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at home. Gene was born Feb­ruary 26, 1944, in Wat­er­­ville to James and Vio­­lette Paulette.

He graduated Winslow High School in 1962 and started his lifelong career at the Morning Sentinel, in Waterville, where he worked for 44 years.

On November 23, 1967, he married the love of his life Rose Deschaine. They were married for 55 years and together they raised three children.

Gene was a hard worker, most of the time holding down two jobs to be able to provide for his family, in return he also loved to have fun. Many antics happened around the campfire and family gatherings.

Gene loved camping but most of all he loved his family. He looked forward to visits from his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gene was predeceased by his father and mother.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years Rose Paulette; children Cheryl Trott (Cabot), Scott Paulette and Debbie Blaisdell, Holly Paulette and Ed McCausland; grandchildren Dylan Trott, Cameron Trott, Justin McCausland and Rita Brown; great-grandchildren Oliver, Everleigh, Kamden and Waylon; his brother Ron Paulette (Sandra), Betty Pelletier, Paul Paulette (Denise) and Mike Paulette; brother-in-law Roland Deschaine (Diane), Martin Deschaine (Jane) and David Deschaine; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

At Gene’s request there will be no funeral. Also at his request he wanted all to gather, have a party, remember him and have fun.

There will be a celebration of life Sunday September 10, 11 a.m., at Center for All Seasons, 1 Center Dr., Belgrade (formerly Bartlett’s campground). All are welcome.

MYRON A. SMITH

OAKLAND – Myron A. Smith, 94, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Northern Light Inland Hospital, in Waterville. Myron was born on October 25, 1928, in Mercer, at his family home, to Alton and Helen Grace Smith (Owens).

He was one of seven children. He attended grammar school in Mercer and Norridgewock High School. On October 25, 1952, Myron married Josephine Margaret Bacon and they raised two children, Gwendolyn and Robert. They lived in Mercer until 1968 and then moved to Oakland where he lived until his death.

As a young man, Myron showed baby beef at many fairs and participated in 4-H. Through the years, he was a member of Sandy River Grange #89, in Mercer, member of Eastern Star, in Norridgewock, and was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, on August 7, 1953, at Lebanon Masonic Lodge #116. On Monday, August 7, 2023, Myron was presented his 70th year star for being a member of Lebanon Masonic Lodge #116, in Norridgewock, for 70 years, by his son, Robert Smith. He was very proud of his Masonic Service over the years.

Myron worked for the State of Maine, Department of Transportation from 1952 until 1977. After retiring from the state, he couldn’t sit still so he started doing logging work for himself with his ponies. After this, he worked with Frank Varney building houses, worked for Tukey’s sawmill for over 20 years and finished his working career at RSU #18 as a maintenance worker.

Myron enjoyed several hobbies including pulling his ponies locally and at several fairs throughout Maine from 1970 – 1985. He also enjoyed camping with his wife and family in many places, to include Florida, Virginia, Tennessee and his dream trip to Alaska. He was a seasonal camper at Yonderhill Jellystone Park, in Madison, for the last 13 years. He loved roller skating, snowmobiling, playing cards and games (he made each of his kids marble game boards, pegs and jokers boards and potty boards (corn hole}, enjoyed reading the newspaper every day, dancing in his younger years, taking tickets monthly for the Masonic Lodge public suppers for the last 10 years and teasing his three grandchildren and his six great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Florence Stacy (Charles), brother Harold and his wife Gweneth Smith, sister Guinevere and her husband Gerald Lambert, brother-in-laws Gerald Bulmer, John B. Oblak, Carl Pooler, and James W. Bacon.

He is survived by his wife, Josephine, of 70 years; daughter Gwendolyn (Brian) Thebarge; son Robert (Cindy) Smith. Siblings Beverly Bulmer, Lee (Charlene) Smith, James (Dawn) Smith; his three grandchildren, who called him Grampie, Megan (Nick) Shorey, Caitlin (Shawn Dube) Smith, and Carleton (Mikala) Smith and six great-grandchildren who called him Bampie, Ava, Brady and Calhan (CJ) Shorey, Dawson and Addison Dube, and Kayden Smith; sisters-in-law Janiece B Oblak, Rosalie R. Bacon, and Georgia W. Pooler; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral service, to include a Masonic Ceremony, will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 1 p.m., at Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, at 14 W. School Street, in Oakland. Burial will follow directly after at Lewis Cemetery, Cottle Road, in Oakland.

Arrangements are under the care of Dan and Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Service in Skowhegan, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Myron’s memory to Lebanon Masonic Lodge #116, c/o Brian Thebarge, Secretary, 225 Middle Road, Oakland, ME 04963.

NEAL D. HALLEE

AUBURN – Neal D. Hallee, 79, of Auburn, passed away on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 in Au­burn. He was born on Oc­tober 21, 1943, the son of Florian and Constance Hallee, of Waterville.

He graduated from Waterville High School, the University of Maine, Orono and Penn State University, College Station, Pennsylvania.

He was an internationally published Agricultural Engineering Professor at the University of Maine, Orono, for 36 years, until he retired to Cooper and Topsham. During his university career, in addition to working with the farmers of Maine, Neal was one of the architects of the Maine Compost School.

He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Anne Hallee; and his son-in-law Michael Robert Tibbetts.

He is survived by his son Richard and his husband Lawrence Griffin; his daughter Margaret; two granddaughters, Grace and Katie Tibbetts; two step-grandchildren, Brad Griffin and Katelyn Flint; brothers and sisters and their families.

Funeral arrangements are by Funeral Alternatives Group. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in Lisbon, on Friday, September 8, 2023, beginning with a period of visitation from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., with a funeral Mass to take place at 11 a.m., followed by interment at Grace Lawn Cemetery, in Auburn.

Condolences may be expressed at http://www.funeralalternatives.net and https://www.facebook.com/FALewiston.

SISTER VIRGINIA CONNORS

WATERVILLE – Sister Virginia Connors SSS, 94, a member of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, in Waterville, passed away in the early morning on Mon­day, August 28, 2023. She was born in Brooklyn New York, on November 5, 1928, and entered the convent here in Waterville, on November 4, 1954.

Before coming to the convent she had obtained a B.A . degree from Lincoln Memorial University, in Harrogate, Tennessee, and worked as a Blood Bank Laboratory Technician. As a religious she became a Licenced Practical Nurse, at Mt. St. Joseph, in Waterville.

She served the church in Waterville, Pueblo, Colorado, Kenner, Louisiana, and Cleveland, Ohio. In community she served as local and provincial treasurer. During the years after Vatican II she represented our community at the Diocesan pastoral council meetings for women religious in Portland. She loved to lead the weekly sharing on the Word of God and continued until her energy ran out..

When she returned to Mount St. Joseph in May 2023, she still thought of herself as a nurse giving medical advice to others, medical advice she had acquired over the years.

She was predeceased by her parents, Thomas Connors and Virgina Walsh and her brother Thomas.

She is mourned by her religious community; her brother Russell Connors and wife Rebekkah, from Cape Elizabeth; nieces and nephews Dr. Jean Yortz, Virginia and Dr. Daniel Hershman, of Massachusets, Sarah and Mary Ellen Colson, of Topsham, and John Connors, of Casco.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Silver Street, in Waterville.