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Edward Lawry
KITTERY - Edward Weston Lawry "Capt Ed," 79, of Halstead Street in Kittery, died on Sept. 6, 2004 at his home.
He was born on Aug. 16, 1925 in Kittery Point. He was a son of Edward Lawry and Ruby (Sullivan) Sunderlin. He attended local schools. He served his country as a member of the United States Army and United States Navy during World War II.
He met and in 1946 married his loving wife of 58 years Phyllis (Vancour) Lawry; together they made their home and raised a family in Portsmouth until his retirement when they moved to Florida for a number of years before returning to the seacoast and settling in Kittery.
Early on he played minor league baseball and was called up to the major leagues, but had to decline because of family responsibilities.
A well-known local self-taught artist, he used his many talents as a sign painter owning and operating Lawry Sign Company in Portsmouth, which he operated for many years before his retirement. He was also employed for a time before he opened his business at Simplex Wire and Cable.
He was a quiet soft-spoken man on most topics with the exception of discussions about religion and politics. He enjoyed the ocean, spending a lot of time at the Isles of Shoals. While his family was growing up, his uncle was the lighthouse keeper at the Shoals and welcomed them to the islands often. He enjoyed drawing, bingo and painting.
He is survived by his family who will miss him dearly. They include his wife Phyllis; one daughter, Linda and her husband Terry Morris of Pennsylvania; one son, Edward W."Chip" Lawry Jr. and his wife Susan of Portsmouth, N.H.; two sisters, Barbara and her husband Paul Foye of Kittery and Kathleen Folger of York; eight brothers, Philip Sunderlin of California, Alan Sunderlin of Florida, Ralph "Butch" Sunderlin and his wife Gina of Kittery, Keith and his wife Mary Sunderlin of Rhode Island, Dennis and his wife Ada Lawry of Portsmouth, Eugene and his wife Harriet Lawry of York, Thomas Lawry of Kittery Point and Edward and his wife Elinor Lawry of Conn.; and his six grandchildren, Nathan, Abby and Kayla Lawry and TJ, David and Greg Morris.
He was predeceased by his daughter Diana Mae Lawry, his parents and a sister Marilyn Foye, and two brothers Larry Sunderlin and Thomas Sunderlin.
Friends may visit with his family on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Rd., Kittery, ME 03904. Other services will be private.
Please omit flowers; donations may be made in his memory to Portsmouth Home Health and Hospice Services, 95 Albany St., Unit 11, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Charlene MacDonald
WELLS - Charlene M. MacDonald, 56, of Locksley Lane, died Sept. 1, 2004 at York Hospital.
She was born in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Dec. 27, 1947, the daughter of Charles F. and Evelyn T. (Olssen) Reynolds.
She graduated from Somerville (Mass.) High School and earned an associates degree.
She worked for the Social Security Administration for 12 years as a claims representative.
After moving to Maine, she worked at the Steakhouse in Wells and also at LaVallee Lumber as a clerk.
She married Bradford MacDonald on April 21, 1979. She was a loving wife, mother and "grand ma-ma." She enjoyed people and collecting lion statues and figurines.
She is predeceased by a brother, Peter Reynolds.
Surviving are her husband of Wells; one son, Chad MacDonald of Malden, Mass.; one daughter, Denise Sullivan of East Walpole, Mass.; and two grandchildren, Catherine and Patrick Sullivan, both of East Walpole, Mass.
A funeral was held Tuesday at Bibber Memorial Chapel, Wells. Burial followed at Mount Auburn cemetery in Cambridge, Mass.
Arrangements are by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Wells.
John Sprague
ELIOT - John Everett Sprague, 87, of State Road in Eliot, died on Aug. 29, 2004 at his home.
Born in Portsmouth, N.H. on June 5, 1917, he was a son of Albert and Elizabeth (Avery) Sprague. He was raised in and attended schools in Kittery.
In 1950 he met and married his loving wife of 40 years, Helen (Dame) Sprague; they settled in Eliot where they made their home and raised their family.
He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army during World War II. Early in the war he was taken prisoner in North Africa and transported to Germany where he was held as a prisoner of war for more than two and a half years.
Following his discharge from military service he worked in the blueprint room at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where he retired from in the '70s.
He enjoyed playing the trumpet in his earlier years and was an avid pigeon racer. From his loft at home he trained and raced pigeons for many years.
He is survived by his family who will miss him dearly. They include one daughter, Cherie and her husband Thomas Sukeforth of Falmouth, Maine; one brother, Ralph and his wife Louise Sprague of Kittery; and four grandchildren, Erin, Robyn, Sarah, and Molly Sukeforth; and his dear friend Pat Lawrence.
He was predeceased by his wife, a sister and many brothers.
Funeral services will be private at the request of the family.
Please omit flowers; donations may be made in his memory to Post 168 Veteran's of Foreign War, 168 Deer St., Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Cora Staples
ROCHESTER, N.H. - Cora Francis Staples, 94, formerly of Maple Street, Somersworth, N.H., died Aug. 31, 2004 at the Rochester Manor after a long illness.
She was born in Wells on July 29, 1910, a daughter of William C. and Florence E. (Cheney) Canney and graduated from Wells High School.
She worked as a stitcher in a Rochester shoe factory for several years.
She and her family raised and sold chickens for many years in Somersworth. After her husband Walter Scott Staples died she took over and operated the Rochester Used Furniture on Green Street in Rochester, dealing in antiques and used furniture until her retirement in 1979.
She belonged to and participated with several granges.
She enjoyed baking and cooking in general, caring for and taking care of family and friends who could no longer care for themselves, fishing, dancing, laughing and just plain loving life in general.
She had a flair for making people laugh and smile even to the very end.
She was predeceased by her husband who died in 1966, three brothers Melvin, Malcome and Cecil "Jigs" Canney, two sisters, Hazel Lessard and Thelma Dubois and her grandson Paul S. Staples.
She is survived by her two sons, Don C. Staples and his companion Lois Ingle of Pensacola, Fla., and William S. Staples Sr. and his wife Germaine of Long Beach, Miss.; two sisters, Barbara Hodgdon of Rochester, N.H. and Agnes Morrison of Boynton Beach, Fla.; four grandchildren, William S. Staples Jr. and his wife Kathy of Somersworth, N.H., Sharlene Daniels and her husband Ronnie of Long Beach, Miss., Donna Marie Curry and her husband Ray of Kennewick, Wash., and Don J. Staples of Pensacola, Fla.; six great-grandchildren, Angela M. Staples and Briana I. Staples, both of Somersworth, N.H., Jeanene Walker of Long Beach, Miss., Don O. Staples and his wife Candice of Bailey, Colo., Michael Curry of Portland, Ore., and Brian Curry of Post Falls, Idaho; three great-great-grandchildren, Morgan Walker of Long Beach, Miss., Taylin Curry of Portland Ore., and Geneveve Curry of Post Falls, Idaho.
She has left behind life-long friend, companion and love, Robert Kendal of Lebanon, Maine.
A funeral was held Friday at the Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, Berwick, with the Rev. Travis Glatter officiating. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery, Berwick.
Arrangements by Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel-Berwick.
Charlotte Clark
WELLS - Charlotte M. Clark, 85, of Burnt Mill Road, formerly of Arundel, died Sept. 3, 2004 at the Renaissance Health Care Center in Biddeford.
She was born in Biddeford on March 30, 1919, the daughter of Harold and Alice Libby.
She attended local schools and was a homemaker all of her life.
She enjoyed crocheting and sewing clothes for her granddaughters.
She is predeceased by her husband, Robert Clark who died in 1988.
Surviving are three daughters, Helen Packard of Wells, Nancy Leach and Barbara Leach, both of Arundel; one brother, Kenneth Libby of Kennebunk; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Wednesday at the Bibber Memorial Chapel, Wells. Burial followed at Ocean View cemetery in Wells.
If desired, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, 343 Gorham Rd., South Portland, ME 04106.
Paul Colarossi
WELLS - Paul P. Colarossi, 35, of Bald Hill Road, died Sept. 2, 2004 in Lebanon, Maine.
He was born in Woburn, Mass. on June 29, 1969, a son of Joseph M. and Anna M. (Voner) Colorassi.
He graduated from Wells High School in 1988 and was an excellent football player.
He then attended SMVTI and received his certificate for masonry. He worked in the Portland area for the Local 2 Bricklayers Union and was also a self-employed mason.
An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, and animals. He was active in the Acton Fair and showing his animals for several years. He lived life to the fullest as well as making a lot of other people enjoy life.
He was predeceased by his father who died in 1993.
Survivors include his one son, Lucas Paul Colarossi of Wells; his mother of Wells; two brothers, Friar Joseph (Peter) M. Colarossi of Buffalo, N.Y. and Joseph H. Colarossi and his wife Gail of Wells; one nephew, Michael and one niece, Ashley, both of Wells; and Ashton Polk, who he raised since a young age.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Wells. Burial will follow at the Colarossi Family cemetery on Bald Hill Road.
If desired, donations can be made in his memory to the Acton Fair Assoc.
Arrangements by Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells.
Christopher DiTomaso
WELLS - Christopher John DiTomaso, 35, a resident of Branch Road, Wells, died Nov. 4, 2004 at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston from medical complications.
He was born in New Brunswick, N.J. on Oct. 5, 1969, a son of Arthur and Linda (Fecskovics) DiTomaso. He was educated in Saugus, Mass. schools and completed his final year at Kennebunk High School.
As a youth he played in the Saugus Little League and served as an alter boy at St. Margaret's in Saugus. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne and served in the Middle East during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After his military obligation he worked as a machinist at General Dynamics in Saco for eight years.
He enjoyed golf and was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. His passion was gourmet cooking, and he often delighted his family and friends with his special dishes. His other interests included gardening in his yard and music.
He is survived by his wife Crystal Ann (Littlefield) DiTomaso of Wells; two step-children, Dustin and Jerrica; his mother, Linda DiTomaso of Biddeford; his father, Arthur DiTomaso of The Villages, Fla.; one brother. WO1 Steven DiTomaso, U.S.A. currently stationed in Korea; his grandmother, Helen Fecskovics of Jamesburg, N.J.; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was held Monday at the St. Martha Church, Kennebunk. Interment was private.
Should friends desire, memorial donation may be made in his name to the Christopher John DiTomaso Trust, c/o DiTomaso Family, PO Box 1873, Wells, ME 04090 in his memory. The American Red Cross is having a blood drive in his name on Nov. 13, 2004 at Holy Trinity in Saco.
Arrangements by the Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.
Charles Bassett III
ARUNDEL - Charles "Charlie" Chester Bassett III, 77, a resident of Arundel died Nov. 6, 2004 at his home after a lengthy illness.
He was born the son of Julia (Hebard) and Charles Chester Bassett Jr. on July 28, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pa. He was raised from an early age by his mother and stepfather, John Burt Corning.
He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1945. He also attended King's Point Merchant Marine Academy from 1945 to 1947 and Harvard College graduating in 1950 with a BA in history. He continued his education, graduating from the Colgate-Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia in 1962.
He served in the Merchant Marine and was an active officer in the Naval Reserve.
He was a former resident of Darien, Conn. where he was a textile designer and sales manager in New York City for more than 25 years. He then returned to Maine in 1977 to work full time on his family tree farm.
He was Tree Farmer of the Year for the state of Maine in 1981 and served on other organizations associated with forestry and land preservation. He was an active member of S.W.O.A.M. serving as president in 1986. Under his tutelage, he initiated the program that established the headquarters and staff in Augusta. He was also a member of the Belted Galloway Society and the Rotary of Kennebunk. He worked for the Extension Service of the University of Maine and the Maine Farm Bureau. He was a long-time member of the Arundel Planning Board and very active in community affairs.
He loved the outdoors and sharing his knowledge and expertise with others.
He was predeceased by his son, Daniel McCoy Bassett who died in 1986.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Katharine (McCoy) Bassett of Arundel; one son, Charles Corning Bassett of Richmond, Va.; one daughter, Katharine Bassett Dickerson of Lyon, Miss.; and three grandchildren, Elizabeth Corning Bassett of Richmond, Va. and James Charles Dickerson and John McCoy Dickerson, both of Lyon, Miss.
A memorial service celebrating his life was held on Wednesday at the South Congregational Church of Kennebunkport. A reception followed at The Community House.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, PO Box 836, Augusta, ME 04332; Berea College, CPO 2216 Berea, KY 40404; or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.
Elise Berube
GROVELAND, Fla. - Elise Helene Berube, 75, a resident of Maryland Avenue, Groveland, Fla. died Nov. 4, 2004 at her home after a long illness.
She was born in Passaic, N.J. on Nov. 8, 1928, a daughter of Gerhard H.F. and Helene Augusta (Arnold) Mahlmann Sr. She graduated from New Brunswick High School in New Jersey.
She was employed by the Southern Maine Medical Center of Biddeford as switchboard operator for many years.
She was a member of the Madonna Chapter 144 Order of Eastern Star of West Kennebunk.
She enjoyed traveling, writing, volunteering at local hospitals.
She was predeceased by her first husband Louis W. Farber Sr. who died in 1983 and her brother Gerhard H.F. Mahlmann Jr.
She is survived by her husband Robert H. Berube of Groveland, Fla.; one son, Louis William Farber Jr. of Ellicott, Md.; two daughters, Kathy L. Farber of Wells and Lisa H. Silk of Woodbury, Vt.; one step-son, Dale Berube of Old Orchard Beach; one step-daughter, Nancy Berube of Waterboro; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Wednesday at Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk with the Rev. Richard Horner officiating. Interment was in Hope Cemetery, Kennebunk.
Arrangements by the Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.
