Obituaries, Week of October 13, 2016

RICHARD BLACK

WHITEFIELD––Richard F. Black, 77, of Whitefield, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2016, at the Country Manor Nursing Home, in Coopers Mills. Born on April 15, 1939, in Waldoboro, he was the son of Raymond and Eleanor (Marshell) Black.

Richard was a super person and a wonderful big brother. He loved working carnivals, fishing, watching western movies, and listening to country music.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Judy (Leathers) Black; brothers, Eddie and Andy Black; and sisters, Gloria Norton and Judith Greene.

He is survived by daughter, Debbie (Black) Smith, of Eugene, Oregon; sister, Priscilla M. Sumabat; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.

CARL J. SCHROEDER

SOUTH CHINA – Carl J. Schroeder, 68, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta following a 7 ½-month battle with lung cancer. The first child of Donald Richard (“Popper”) and Dorothy Viola Konitz (“Grammy”) Schroeder, he was born on December 17, 1947, in New Haven, Connecticut.

He enjoyed an adventure-filled childhood and graduated from Hamden High School, Hamden, Connecticut, in 1965, then went on to Southern Connecticut State College and received a B.S. degree in 1969, having majored in industrial arts with a concentration in graphic arts. From 1962 through 1969, he was also a member of the Order of DeMolay.

Despite his aversion to studies he became a well-regarded teacher, beginning with a stint at Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School, in Southington, Connecticut. He also worked for Radio Shack prior to moving to Maine. He and his young family settled in Dresden close to his parents, allowing him to partner with his father in the electronics business. During the 1980s, he taught industrial arts at Hodgkins School, in Augusta, marketing for vocational technical students, and computer operation for adults.

Carl was an independent sort and went into business for himself in the 1990s as a cabinet-maker/contractor/carpenter and never looked back. His great love was to make sawdust and hope something good would fall out of it. That happened 99 percent of the time. He could make or do nearly anything he set his mind to. His mother-in-law once called him the curly-haired genius.

Other interests included collecting and using guns; photography and working on classic cars. Carl enjoyed showing off his 1969 Camaro convertible, fully restored, and his 1966 Avanti II. He was a member of the Maine Obsolete Automobile League, Inc. (MOALS) and the Avanti Owners Association International, Inc.

He was an advocate for Compassion International, and had sponsored several children in foreign countries.

In recent years, he began an online music ministry, sharing his Christian music and songs from other artists. He produced CDs as well, and was working on a Christmas album with dear and talented friends at the time of his death.

One of his favorite places was Swan’s Island, right off Bass Harbor, and he managed to get there one last time for a short visit. He will be missed by his island friends.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Emily; son Don and wife Sue, of Dresden, granddaughter Eva; daughter Carla Thomas and her husband Andrew, of Farmingdale; mother Dorothy, of Hallowell; sister Dot Jespersen and her husband Ron, of Pittston; nieces Lori Decker, of Ocala, Florida, and Kris Prindle and her husband Adrian, of Windsor; grandnieces and cousins; former wife, Gail, of Gardiner.

Friends are encouraged to donate to the charity of their choice in Carl’s memory or to any of the following:

South China Community Church, P.O. Box 335, South China, ME 04358; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123, www.cancer.org; Compassion International,
12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921-3668, www.compassion.com.
Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

Arrangements were under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Rd., Windsor.

ROBERT M. LEVESQUE

WINSLOW – Robert M. Levesque, 74, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at Inland Hospital, in Waterville. He was born on September 18, 1942, in Bangor, son of Robert and Sophie (Prszybilski) Levesque.

He was a resident of Orrington and a 1960 graduate of Brewer High School.

Robert was a jet engine mechanic in the Air National Guard at the former Dow AFB, in Bangor, a truck driver, and bus mechanic for Waterville School Department.

A loving father and grandfather Robert enjoyed spending time with family, watching his grandchildren’s sports and other recreational events. He built his own home, and enjoyed woodworking.

Robert is survived by his wife Dianne; sons, Michael and wife Sibel, Monte and wife Jessica, Matthew and wife Joan, and Benjamin and wife Tomi; grandchildren, Michael Jr., Melanie, Angela, Nicole, Laura, Colby, Emily, Brenden, Jackson, and Madison; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Isabella, Colin, and Alexander; brothers, Richard and companion Earlene, and Steve and wife Sara; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at: www.lawrybrothers.com.

ALBERTA N. CRAIG

SOUTH CHINA – Alberta ‘Bunny” Nowland Craig, 99, passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2016. She was born on October 11, 1916 in Windsor, the third child of the late Arthur V. & Ethel (Cummings) Nowland.

Bunny started her education at Windsor Grammar School and continued on with many long walks to Erskine Academy with her siblings to graduate in the class of 1936. She was last surviving member of her class.

Nearing her 100th birthday, the last of her family of eight, she was predeceased by her first-born at birth, Sandra Lee in 1941; her parents, sisters Virginia Nowland (1971); Phyllis Cunningham (2008); sisters-in-law Violet Nowland (2008) and Barbara Nowland (2012); brothers, Dean Nowland (1983); C. Frederick Nowland (2006); Everett (2009); Cecil (2009); Maland (2013); brother-in-law Al Cunningham (1994) and nephews, Gary Cunningham and Steven Nowland.

Bunny became a single mom at an early age and, as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. In our case, it took the Nowland family to provide care in her place, thus enabling her to better herself for her daughter. She went to work at Keene’s Grocery Store (later known as Bernard’s Foodland) in order to support the two of them and go on to college to get a more profitable job. She was soon able to begin working at Depositors Trust Bank at several different branches in Augusta, continuing on many years after it became Key Bank.

Retiring in the late 70s after a fall on the ice while walking to work, breaking vertebrae in her back, making it difficult for her to continue, she decided to retire. It was a hard decision as she enjoyed her co-workers and many customers, a special one being Bill Forbes from Augusta Police Department, friends to this day.

After recovering with her daughter and family, she returned home to help her brothers care for their aging mom. She also enjoyed being near her daughters family including her grandchildren. Soon, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren came to know her as Nana or great-nana.

Survivors include her daughter, Gloria E. Strout and her husband, Arthur, of South China; her five grandchildren: Dennis Strout and wife, Susan; Lenwood Strout and wife, Tammy; Kenneth Strout, Sr. and wife, Tina; Kevin Strout and wife, Cindy and Keri Strout. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Trevor Strout, Tricia Strout, Heather St. Amand and husband, Mark; Kenneth Strout, Jr. and wife Kayla; Zach Strout and wife, Sarah, Cody Strout, Colby Strout and Hannah Strout. In addition, Nana leaves four great-great grandchildren, Bryan, Liam, Ainsley and Josiah; several nieces and nephews as well as great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 300, Frisco, Texas 75034, and/or, if you are able, lend a hand to someone in need which would warm her heart and put a smile on her face.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared through the funeral home website at: www.plummerfh.com.

GLENNIS J. HOLT

BENTON – Glennis J. Holt, 79, passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2016, at Inland Hospital, in Waterville, following a year-long battle with heart disease. Glennis was born in Unity to Charles Dinsmore and Charlotte M. Good. She resided there until 1957, when she married her husband, Gerald Willie Holt in Muldraugh, Kentucky, while he served in the military. In the fall of 1964, they moved to Benton where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Glennis had various part time jobs throughout the years, but her primary job was mother to her three children and caretaker of the home. Glennis was an avid Red Sox fan, even as a child she enjoyed listening to them on the radio. She also loved to cook, to travel and most importantly, loved spending time with her grandchildren. Glennis was a charter member of the East Benton Christian Church and her faith gave her strength and remained strong until the end.

Glennis is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gerald Holt, of Benton; sons, Jeff Holt, of Benton, and Andy Holt and wife Wendy Wood-Holt, of Gray, Tennessee, daughter Debra Holt-Kelley and husband Keith, of Dixmont; grandchildren, Alex Holt and Kaylee Holt-Hunter; great grandchildren Ava and Aiden Hunter; sisters, Shirley Chadwick and Beverly Fowler, brother Stanley Dinsmore and wife Donna, brother-in-law Joe Eeva, predeceased by his wife and her sister Gertrude Eeva; and many nieces and nephews.

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

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. June Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105.

DANA R. HARRIS

FAIRFIELD – Dana Richard Harris, 57, of Fairfield passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at his home on Tues­day, Oct­ober 4, 2016. He was the son of Richard and Marlene (Ham) Harris and was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 11, 1958. He grew up in Winslow and graduated from Winslow High School in 1977.

Following graduation, Dana worked for Levine’s in sales and apartment maintenance. He went on to become a talented certified welder, licensed plumber and long-distance truck driver. Dana worked in construction much of his life, including for Reed & Reed and Cianbro Corp., where he earned the nickname “Doc.” He was especially proud of his part in the construction of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, and he set the observation deck canopy when it was complete. For the past two years, he very much enjoyed working with the staff at L.N. Violette and with the customers he served in the area.

Dana loved antique automobiles and motorcycles, had a deep appreciation for history and items from the past, and could fix anything. He knew many interesting people across the state and had lots of stories to tell. He was happiest working in the woods or in his barn.

Dana is survived by his mother and father of Winslow; his sister, Allison Watson and her husband Michael, of Fairfield; and will be especially missed by his brother, Marty Harris and Rhonda Kennedy, of Oakland; his aunt and uncle, Wayne and Peggy Ham, of Winslow, an uncle, Harold Stevens, of Florida; his great-aunt Evelyn Phair, of Brunswick; and cousins, a niece and nephews.
An online guestbook may be signed and thoughts expressed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

VIVIAN S. DANIELS

WHITEFIELD – Vivian S Daniels, 90, of Whitefield, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at home from congestive heart failure. Vivian was born in New Jersey on December 13, 1925.

She lived and worked in Florida for 15 years before moving to Whitefield in 1977 where she has lived for the last 39 years.

She worked at the Winthrop Mineral Shop for several years before retiring in 1990.

Vivian was a long time member of the Young at Heart Senior Citizens Club, of Whitefield. She was an avid Bingo player playing twice a week in Wiscasset and Gardiner. She enjoyed doing word search and picture puzzles.

She was predeceased by her parents, Frederick N. Scott and Maybele Winford Garnier.

Vivian leaves behind two sons, Dale G. Daniels and wife Jalaine Bryant, of Whitefield, and Frederick A. Daniels and wife Debbie Daniels ,of Patalaska, Ohio, one daughter Grace Daniels, of Whitefield; grandson John, Matthew and wife Melissa Daniels, of Whitefield; three great- grandkids Reece, Mary, and Marc; several step grandchildren Steven, Nicole, Chris, Shane, Julia; step great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Keema, Reynatio, Laney, Carl, McKenzie, and Rhyder.

OTHERS DEPARTED

BRANT R. PERRY, 63, of Chelsea, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at his home. Locally, he is survived by a brother, Robert Perry, of Windsor.