Obituaries, Week of November 3, 2016

DANETTE D. GOWER

BENTON––Danette D. Gower passed away on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. Danette was born to Terry (Brown) and Harold Eastwood, in Torrance, California, on November 2, 1957.

She attended Lawrence High School and graduated in 1975.

Her husband, Ricky first saw Danette at the age of 11 and chased her until she caught him. The were married on February 28, 1976, and they enjoyed 40 wonderful years of marriage together. Theirs was a true love story.

Danette had a love of horses like no other and all animals since early childhood. She enjoyed being creative and crafty as well as spending time outdoors fishing, going for scenic adventurous drives and spending lots of time ono the beautiful river setting where family and friends have gathered for years. Her infectious laugh, beautiful smile and witty sarcasm will be missed by all.

Danette was predeceased by her son Aaron Gower; father Harold Eastwood; sister Debbie Brann; and her stepfather Basil Spalding.

She is survived by her husband Ricky; daughter Liza; five grandchildren, Alyssa, Alixandra, Tryus, Kali and Jaycee; and her siblings Becky Green, Peter Boothby, Toni McDougall, Tami Cecil and DJ Eastwood.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, November 5, at 10 a.m. at Benton Falls Cemetery at 1121 Clinton Avenue, in Benton.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, MaineGeneral Health Office of Philanthropy, PO Box 828, Waterville ME 04903 or at www.give.mainegeneral.org.

ROBERT W. CHAMBERLAIN

FAIRFIELD – Robert “Bob” W. Chamberlain, 71, passed away unexpectedly on Tues ­day, October 18, 2016. He was born August 31, 1945, in Waterville, the son of Wilfred Nicholas and Doris (Cayouette) Chamberlain.

He enjoyed singing and playing his guitar, spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Robert is survived by his wife Darlene (Smith) Chamberlain, of Fairfield; daughters, Charlotte Quimby, of Fairfield, Michelle Chamberlain, of Madison, Ronnie West and husband Robert, of Jay, and Heather Hovey, of Fairfield; sons, Robbie Lewis, of Solon, Joshua Chamberlain and wife Adrien, of Hallowell; 10 grandchildren; two great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his father and mother.

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

ETHELYN M. HARVEY

OAKLAND––Ethelyn Mae Harvey passed away on Thursday, October 20, 2016. Ethelyn was born February 27, 1941, in Cape Porpoise, the daughter of Justin Jr. and Ione (Mawson) Foss.

She graduated from Kennebunk High School.

Ethelyn found great joy in spending time with her entire family and friends. She had many hobbies including boat building, doll making, woodworking, painting, fishing, boating, cooking, and sewing. Ethelyn was also an avid swimmer, volleyball player, basketball star, golfer, tennis player, an extraordinary artist, and a dutiful teacher. She enjoyed teaching those who wanted to learn and shared all her knowledge and wisdom to those she came in contact with. Ethelyn was one of a kind and lived her life to the absolute fullest. She instilled in us all what it means to be a true family. “I can’t promise you that I will be here for the rest of your life but I can promise that I will love you for the rest of mine.”

Ethelyn was predeceased by her husband of 46 years Paul Harvey, sister Pauline Foss, and brother Justin Foss III.

Ethelyn is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth Lane and partner Gil Drouin, Laura Harvey and partner Ron Burwood, and Cindy Harvey and fiancé Keith Woodard; nine grandchildren, Rachel Lane and partner Kevin Smith, Paul Garland, Roy Garland, Michael Garland and partner Katie Seeley, Ricky Lane II, Katie lancaster and husband Travis, Nicholas Lane and partner Jen Swett, Jeff (Jay) Quirion and partner Tamran Laliberte, and Trisha Ware; 17 great-grandchildren Tyler, Noah, Parker, Kylie, Jacob, Kaydence, Mackenzie, Alexis, Makylee, Ricky III, Lily, Jackson, Morgan, Haylee, Paige, Ali, and Aerek; sister Ada Skillings; and lifelong friends, Carolyn Emilie and Connie, and countless others.

An online guestbook may be signed and thoughts expressed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

CLARA E. CURTIS

AUGUSTA––Clara Elizabeth Cunningham Curtis, 80, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, October 24, 2016, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. She was born on July 15, 1936, in Augusta, to Reginald and Lena Cunningham.

She grew up and attended school in Vassalboro.

In 1956 she married her husband of 60 years, Richard Curtis. Together they raised six children.

Clara had a very fulfilling life with her whole focus on her family. She was a fun mom who liked to stay active. She started a 4H Club for some of the neighborhood kids teaching them to sew, cook and other craft projects. She was very involved in church, writing and directing plays and teaching Vacation Bible School. She created scavenger hunts for her children, taught them to fish in the rain puddles for milkweed pods that looked just like real fish, and made the best picnics under the willow tree.

Clara was an entrepreneur in her own right. She stated by selling baked goods at a local flea market which sold out weekly. Eventually that led into a business called Carriage House Gardens where she and her husband had a farm stand, made gift baskets, wreaths, sold Christmas trees and, of course, her cheesecake and cream puffs.

After the children left home she found new ways to keep herself busy. She took up painting and writing classers where she really found her passion. In 2008, she published her memoir, Cross Hill, about growing up during the depression in Vassalboro. Clara loved to talk about her childhood and the relationship she had with her cousins and the fun times they had living and playing in nature.

Clara was also very involved in volunteer work. In the 90s she spent much time at Glenridge Nursing Home helping her daughter in the activities department where she loved to decorate for the residents. She also volunteered with the Special Olympics. She was also involved with the non-profit group PAS. Parental Alienation Syndrome, trying to get laws changed and passed in the Senate advocating for parents and grandparents rights.

Clara was predeceased by her parents; two sister, Noreen Bradford and Shirley Barnes; and son-in-law David Tobias.
Surviving are her husband Richard Curtis; sons, Mark Curtis and wife Deborah, and Clint Curtis land partner Valerie Johnson; four daughters, Kathleen Tobias, Debra Elliott and husband Jeffrey, Brandy Labbe and husband Michael, and Stacy Caron and husband Claude; stepson Steven Scholz and wife Kimberly; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

LYDIA SCOTT

WHITEFIELD––Lydia Scott, 97, who was born in Whitefield on May 26, 1919, passed away on Monday, October 24, 2016.

Lydia attended the Whitefield school.

She raked and picked blueberries for many years and worked at the Old Homestead, in Manchester, as a cook and Carleton Mill, in Richmond. She belonged to the Grange in North Whitefield Baptist Church.

Lydia was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Frederick Larry Scott, who she married July 11, 1941; parents Lucy Ann (Hansen) Brown and Nathan Brown; 10 siblings, Edith Craig, Clyde Dow, Ruth Quimby, Mabel Desmond, Norman Dow, Lloyd Dow, Bertha Merry, Horace John Brown, Keith Brown and Forrest Brown.

Lydia is survived by two daughters, Lydia Susan Choate and husband Roland Sr., and Elizabeth Arline Presby; seven grandchildren, Roland A. Choate Jr. and wife Allison, Michael Alvin Presby and wife April, Peter Lee Presby and wife

Heather, Debra Sue Dill and husband Robert, William Scott Choate and wife Kim, Nathan Allen Presby and wife Cassie, and Nicholas Frederick Presby; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

TERRY W. COTTA

CHINA – Terry William Cotta, 60, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, following a lengthy illness. Terry was born on December 16, 1955, in Augusta.

He served in the United States Army between 1976 and 1981, stationed in Germany as a vehicle mechanic. Later, Terry worked as a mechanic and construction equipment operator.

Terry was friendly and good-natured, ever supportive of his family, friends and wife. His enthusiasm for life was infectious. He enjoyed motorcycles and NAS­CAR, and his love of cooking was equaled only by his love of eating.

Terry could always be counted on to add a new perspective and unique outlook to a given situation, reminding those he loved that while life is serious, it ought also to be fun. He was a gifted conversationalist, free of condescension, engaging friends and strangers with equal relish. The absence of his buoyant spirit is deeply felt.

He was predeceased by his parents, Francis Cotta Smith and Harvey L Cotta, and by his sisters, Joann Cotta Sheffler and Dawna Cotta Holmes.

Terry is survived by his sisters, Margaret Sharon Cotta and Lisa Cotta Wilson, and by his brothers, Harvey David Cotta and Wayne B Higgins.