Obituaries, Week of February 1, 2018

JULIANN L. O’CONNOR

FAIRFIELD – Juliann “Julie” Lucy O’Connor, 56, passed away at her home in Fairfield, Saturday, January 13, 2018. She was born in Au­gusta on Febru­ary 14, 1961, the daughter of Ernest O’C­onnor and Loretta (Spaul­ding) O’Connor Rabassa.

She spent the majority of her life in Largo, Florida, with her two rescue dogs, Petey and Ginger. She moved to Maine to be with her family, which meant the most to her.

Julie had many self-taught skills, there was nothing she couldn’t teach herself how to do. She enjoyed spending time with her family, her flower gardens and loved the ocean. She spent her life as a determined, smart, independent, beautiful woman. She was so special, she touched everyone she met in such a powerful way; we are all better people because of her.

Julie is survived by her mother, Loretta (Spaulding) Rabassa; sisters, Vicki Tourtelotte, Nancy Wood, Diana Savage and husband Todd; brothers, Peter and John O’Connor; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her father, Ernest O’Connor.

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

Memorial donations may be made to ones local humane society.

RONALD E. CUNNINGHAM

AUGUSTA – Ronald E. Cunningham, 74, of Augusta, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2018, following a long battle with cancer.

Ronnie was born in Au­gusta on March 3, 1943, the son of Montie Sr. and Mar­guerite (Rain­ey) Cunningham. He attended Vassalboro schools. He was employed by White and Bradstreets used Auto Parts, in Augusta, O’Connor Motors, in Augusta, where he opened the Collision Center. After that he was self employed.

He married Helen Staples on August 15, 1992. Since then they have lived in Augusta. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his dogs.

He was predeceased by his parents and one brother.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, of 25 years; daughter, Julia, of Pennsylvania and sons Timothy and wife Jennifer, Darrin and his wife Debbie, all of Winthrop, Mathew and his wife Angie, of South China; seven grandchildren, Jessica, Kyle, Daniel, Karrisa, Stephanie, Tyler and Allyson; seven great-grandchildren, 8 brothers and sisters, Robert, Montie Jr., Gwendolyn (Glendon), Donna, Brenda, Jacqueline (Tim), Darrell (Lori), and Cheryl (James); and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held on January 28, 2018, at 1 p.m., at the South China Legion Hall. Please come and share your thoughts and stories.

BERNARD E. DAVIS

CHINA – Bernard E. Davis, 75, passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at his home in China. He was born June 8, 1942, in Augusta, the son of Elden and Carmen (Farrington) Davis.

He was educated in the schools of China. On February 14, 1975, he married the former Barbara Davis, in Palermo.

Bernard is survived by a son, Keith Davis and wife Marie, of Litchfield; two daughters, Annette Bickford and Lisa Davis, both of China; two step-daughters, Charlene Pressey and husband George, of Chelsea, and April Vernesoni and husband Harry, of Florida; step-son, Parker Curtis and partner Michelle Orlan, of Palermo; brothers, Jeffrey Davis, of China, John Davis and wife Nancy, of Albion, Patrick Davis, of China, Mick Davis Sr., of China, Anthony Davis and wife Deb, of China; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Davis; son, Kevin Davis; and brother, Gregory Davis.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of their choice.

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

JOAN G. HARRINGTON

WINDSOR – Joan Gloria (Cote) Harrington, 79, passed away Thursday, January 11, 2018, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. She was born November 23, 1938, in Augusta, the daughter of Arsene and Cecile (Lebel) Cote.

She was educated in the schools of Augusta and graduated from Cony High School in 1956. On January 13, 1958, she married Paul E. Harrington, Sr., in Gardiner. Joan was employed for many years at Etonic Shoe, in Richmond, Truitt Brothers, in Gardiner, Weiss Uniform, in Augusta, and Grondon’s, in Augusta. She had been a member of St. Denis Church, in Whitefield since 1967. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, gardening, and baking. She also enjoyed her trips to the coast, New Harbor, for a “lobstah.”

Joan is survived by her husband of 60 years, Paul E. Harrington Sr., of Windsor; two sons, Paul E. Harrington Jr. and wife Nita, of China, Eric L. Harrington, of Windsor; three daughters, Brenda J Moody, of Crystal River, Florida, Cecilia M. Cater and husband Scott, of Windsor, Cynthia C. Smith and husband Ed, of Gardiner; one sister, Laurette O’Brien, of Farmingdale; two brothers, Donald Cote and wife Lorraine, of Sidney, Arsene “Joe” Joseph Cote and wife Rena, of Ft. Myers, Florida; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 10, 2018, at 11 a.m., at St. Denis Church, Whitefield.

The burial will be at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 Email: donors@stjude.org.

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

ROLAND E. BILODEAU

WINSLOW – Roland E. Bilodeau, 92, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2018, at Maine Medical Center, in Portland. He was born May 26, 1925 in Waterville, the son of Pierre J. and Mabel M. (LaCombe) Bilodeau.

He was educated in the schools of Waterville and graduated from Waterville High School in 1943. Roland was a veteran who proudly served his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He then continued his education at the University of Maine, Orono, graduating in 1950. He was employed as a chemical engineer in the pulp and paper industry for 38 years and over the years worked for Hollingsworth and Whitney, Scott Paper Co., both in Winslow, and S.D. Warren, in Hinckley. On November 9, 1992, he married the former Marie Jeanne Cyr, in Caribou.

He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Winslow, and the American Legion. He enjoyed golf, bowling, fishing, hunting, and coin collecting.

Roland is survived by his wife of 26 years, Marie Jeanne (Cyr) Bilodeau, of Winslow; son, John Bilodeau and wife Karen Andrus, of Winslow; daughter, Diane Smith and husband Frederick, of Watertown, Wisconsin; brother, Gerald Bilodeau and wife Madeline, of Newton, Massachusetts; three step-sons, Claude Dugas and wife Diane, Pierre Dugas and wife Margoliene, and Guy Dugas and wife Guylaine, all of Maria, Provice in Québec, Canada; five grandsons, Nicholas Bilodeau and partner Jessica Davis, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, Michael Bilodeau and partner Melissa Reynolds, of Portland, Stephen Smith and wife Heather, of Wisconsin, Eben Andrus, of Portland, and Timothy Andrus and partner Cecily Glowick, of Portland; five granddaughters, Amanda Bilodeau, of Cape Elizabeth, Rebekah Brusven and husband Gregg, Ruth Ann Wesemann and husband Cory, Sharon Leofilos and husband Allen, all of Wisconsin, and Elusia Andrus and partner Thomas Creighton, of Dillon, Colorado; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Roland was predeceased by his parents and his first wife Rose (Poulin) Bilodeau.

Memorial donations may be made to the Travis Mills Foundation, 89 Water Street, Hallowell, ME 04347. This foundation benefits wounded and injured veterans and their families.

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

RONALD A. LEPAGE

WINSLOW – Ronald A. Lepage, 69, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2018, at D’Youville Pavillion, in Lewiston. He was born September 21, 1948, in Lew­iston, the son of Levis and Yvonne (La­fleur) Lepage.

He was educated in the schools of Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1966. He was employed for 30 years as a ship designer at Bath Iron Works. He was a member of the St. Louis Church, in Auburn, and of the National Rifleman Association. Ronald enjoyed coin collecting, antique autos, reading and doing research, hunting, fishing, computer programming, loved animals, especially birds, and drinking Moxie.

Ronald is survived by his sister, Jeanne Luce and husband David, of Winslow; two godchildren, Arthur Jones, of West Des Moines, Iowa, Kathleen Lepage, of Polk City, Iowa; eight nephews, Ryan Jones, of Thomaston, Mark LePage, of Pelham, New Hampshire, Carl Lepage, Gregory Lepage, both of Connecticut, Robert Lepage, David Lepage, both of Wisconsin, Christopher Lepage, of Minnesota, and James Lepage, of Massachusetts; four nieces, Danielle Jones, of Washington, DC, Mary Anne (LePage) Kinney, of Knox, Deborah (Lepage) Burgess, of Connecticut, and Jennifer Lepage, of Montana.

He was predeceased by his parents, Levis and Yvonne Lepage; brothers, Henry, Paul, Daniel, and Raymond; and a special uncle to all, Robert LaFleur.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of their choice.

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

GERALD E. GAGNON

WINSLOW – Gerald E. Gagnon, 86, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018, at his home. He was born March 2, 1931, in Benton, the son of Francis and Marion (Dyer) Gagnon.

He is predeceased by his wife of 58 years Lucille Evelyn Gagnon, his mother, father and brother Francis Jr.

He served in the United States Marine Corps in 1952 and was honorably discharged in 1953 due to family hardship following the death of his father. He married the former Lucille Levasseur on June 16, 1956, in Winslow.

He is survived by his four daughters: Debbie Savage, of Skowhegan, Linda Wood and husband James, of Fairfield, Cindy Gagnon and partner Joyce Wyand, of Benton, and Kathleen Gagnon-Rood and husband Michael, of Jefferson; six grandchildren, Jeremy Gagnon, of Fairfield, Angela, Robert and Lucia Haywood, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Richard Haywood, of Long Beach, California, and Antoinette Gagnon, of Augusta; and eight great-grandchildren: Gavin Lachance, Isaiah and Iriahnna Haywood, Deacon and Makalya Gagnon, Aaliyah and Aarikah Haywood and Rowan Pooler; siblings Ronald Gagnon, Beatrice Roy, Dianne Davis and many nieces, nephews and their children.

Gerald worked for Maine Central Railroad for 30 years. While working there, he also enjoyed raising a small herd of beef cows. He loved the life of farming. After his retirement, he opened C&G Antique Shop where he enjoyed buying and selling antiques and refinishing oak furniture. He and his wife Lucille loved to travel every January and February to warmer climates. They spent many winters in El Paso, Texas, and eventually Panama City, Florida. They made many lifelong friends throughout North America during their travels.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Wednesday, February 7, at 11 a.m., at St. John Catholic Church, 26 Monument St, Winslow. At his request there will be no public viewing held.

Memorial donations may be made to Disabled Veterans National Foundation , 4601 Forbes Blvd, Suite #130, Lanham, Mryland 20706.

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

PHILIP MATHER

SOUTH CHINA – Philip Mather, 94, passed away at his home on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. He was born in Brunswick on June 22, 1923, to Frederick and Vera Clif­ford Mather.

He graduated from Brunswick High School in 1942. He served in the US Army Air Force during WWII, spending 15 months with the 8th Air Force in England as an aerial gunnery instructor. He graduated from Gordon College in 1950 then did one year of graduate studies at Columbia Bible College.

He married the former Doris Johnson on September 22, 1951. She passed away June 28, 1993.

Philip pastored Baptist churches for 36 years including Holmes Bay and Kennebec, Kingfield, Mapleton, Dexter, Yarmouth and Blaine. He continued preaching as an interim pastor in Liberty, South Montville and Windsor following retirement.

He is survived by three children: Alan Mather and his wife Bobbi, of South China, Stephen Mather and his wife Anastasia, of Staten Island, New York, and Beth Froman, of Fairfield; and 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; sisters Glenna and her husband Mark Randall, of York, Barbara Ruszczyk, of Harpswell, and Doris Victoria Stevens, of Brunswick.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 3, at Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., in Brunswick, with a reception to follow in the Stetson’s Funeral Home Family Reception Center. Spring interment will be in New Meadows Cemetery, Brunswick.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, Maine 04086. A life tribute may be viewed and memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.

OTHERS DEPARTED

DEBRA A. HASKE, 61, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at her home. She was born in Waterville on September 27, 1956, the daughter of Donald and Marlene Ann Pryor, of Benton. Locally, she is survived by a sister, Donna Jane Wilson, of Benton, and a brother, James Darren Pryor, of Waterville.

JEAN P. HOUSTON, 84, of Waterville, passed away Friday, January 19, 2018, at Lakewood Continuing Care, in Waterville. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Brenda Houston, of Oakland; granddaughter Christie Holt, of Winslow, and her sons Jordan Holt and Colby Robertson; grandson, John Lessard, of Oakland, and his children Jonathan and Lily Wilkie; brother, Wayne Delaware, of Winslow; cousin, Jeanne Belanger, of Winslow.

CLARENCE H. JONES, 98, of Bingham, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at Sandy River Center, in Farmington. Locally, he is survived by a daughter, Marilyn Rogers-Bull, and her husband Lief, of Solon.

LOCAL TIES

MARGARET PRIOR, 90, of Portland, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2017, at Sedgewood Commons, in Falmouth. She was the wife of the late Carl Prior, who became dean at Unity College, in Unity, in 1968. She joined the Unity Union Church and sang in the choir, taught physical education at Mount View High School, in Thorndike, and coached field hockey and gymnastics. She was also involved with town meetings, worked for the food pantry, was active in church, Rotary International, played bridge and continued to swim and ski.

ALLAN N. HART, 69, of Canaan, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor. At one time, Allan worked for both the Fairfield Police Department and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department, eventually retiring as a personal body guard for an international client.