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Dr. Mervyn Cooper
WEST KENNEBUNK - Dr. Mervyn H.D. Cooper of West Kennebunk, died unexpectedly on April 27, 2005, in Sylacauga, Ala., with his wife, Susan, at his side.
He was associated with York Hospital for more than 20 years and recently retired from practice.
He was born in Streatham, England, to Dr. Mervyn Clement Cooper and Alice May (Downham) Cooper.
He was educated at Monkton Combe School, in Bath, England, and received his medical education at London University - London Hospital, London, U.K.
He practiced medicine with his father in Looe, Cornwall, England, before immigrating to the United States in 1973, settling in New Hampshire where he practiced as a family physician until 1979. In 1979, he moved to Maine and in 1981, became associated with York Hospital. He was a founding director of Healthsource Maine Inc. from 1986 to 1997.
In addition to his wife, Susan, he is survived by two sons, Roger (and his wife, Jill,) and James from England; one daughter, Jeanette from Montana; one grandson, John; and one granddaughter, Joanna in England; two stepdaughters; two stepsons; four granddaughters; and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held for him on Friday at 1 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church, in York Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to York Hospital.
Neil Decker
KENNEBUNK - Neil Decker, 50, died Sunday, May 1, 2005, in Kennebunk after a long illness.
He was born on June 6, 1954, the son of Alford and Florence (Luce) Decker. He attended Marshwood High School and was employed for a time by Rick’s Restaurant in York. He was a loving son and father. He was very proud of his Native American heritage and was an avid fisherman.
He was predeceased by his wife, Colleen (Libby) Decker; his father, Alford Decker; and a sister, Janet Libby.
He was loved and will be missed by his mother, Florence Decker of Clinton, Mass.; his son, Jody Decker of Portland; a sister, Peggy Notaro of Clinton, Mass.; a brother, Randy Decker of Farmington, Maine; and by his grandchild, Kaleb Decker.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Road, York. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kaleb Decker scholarship fund, c/o Jody Decker, P.O. Box 10692, Portland, Maine, 04101.
Richard S. Groves
NASHUA, N.H. - Richard S. Groves, 59, of North Hampton, N.H., died April 22, 2005, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Nashua, N.H., on March 29, 1946, the son of John S. and Phyllis (Buxton) Groves and was a 1966 graduate of Nashua High School. Mr. Groves was also a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. He made Rye and Hampton his home for many years.
Mr. Groves worked as an automotive service manager for many dealers in the Seacoast area.
He was predeceased by his father and his mother.
Mr. Groves is survived by sons, Sean Groves of Concord, N.H., and Derek Groves of Merrimack, N.H.; brothers, John Groves and his wife, Judi, of York Beach, Steven Groves and his wife, Kathy, of York Beach; a sister, JoAnn Daniels and her, husband, Mark of Kittery; three grandchildren, Brandon Groves, Breanna Groves and Zachary Groves.
The family would like to thank Dr. Eric Bonnem and the nurses on the third floor Oncology Unit of Portsmouth Hospital for their wonderful care.
Funeral services will be private. Arrangements by the J. S. Pelkey Funeral Home 125 Old Post Road, Kittery.
Chester E. Hilton, Jr.
KITTERY POINT - Graveside services for Chester E. Hilton Jr., of Brave Boat Harbor Road, husband of Beatrice Hilton, will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, May 6 in the First Baptist Cemetery, Haley Road., Kittery Point.
Herman K. Kimball
YORK - Herman K. Kimball, 69, of Ferry Lane North, died on Saturday April 30, 2005, at his home surrounded by many who loved and cared for him.
Born in Rockland, Maine, on July 23, 1935, he was a son of James F. and Eva (Moore) Kimball. He moved at an early age with his family to the Seacoast area, settling in York, where he was raised and attended York schools.
He met and married his loving wife of many years, Emily (Long) Kimball, and together they made their home in York. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army. He enjoyed membership with the York American Legion Post 56, where he served a number of positions including the post historian for many years and was employed as the post maintenance man.
He worked at an early age as a mechanic for Highway Motors on U.S. Route 1, and with his brother Bob in California for a time as a mechanic as well. The skills and knowledge he acquired as a mechanic never left him. He often repaired vehicles for others around town and served his nephews as their automotive repair adviser, enjoying the challenge of auto repair and the time it afforded him with his nephews. An avid woodworker, he enjoyed crafting everything from small projects, such as plant boxes and whirligigs to household furniture, recently working with his nephew on a coffee table.
For many years, he was a fixture in the York School Department, enjoying his job as a custodian at the York High School. He enjoyed his work with the staff and many years of students who passed through his building.
He is survived by his loving wife, Emily, of York; his brother, Robert Kimball of California; sisters, Barbara Fenimore of York, Elona Tobey of Portsmouth, N.H., Mildred Martel of Portsmouth, N.H., and Phyllis Rothwell of Mulbury, Fla.; many nieces and nephews, and great and great, great nieces and nephews all of whom he adored. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Sonny; and a sister, Gertrude Flynn.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Portsmouth Homecare and Hospice, 95 Brewery Lane, Unit No. 11, Portsmouth, N.H., 03801. Arrangements entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Madeline E. Lucas
YORK - Madeline E. Lucas, 84, of 24 Raydon Road died Monday, May 2, 2005, at Sentry Hill.
She was born in Lisbon, Maine, on July 6, 1920, the daughter of John P. and Marie (Byrus) Elcik and was a 1936 graduate of Lisbon Falls High School.
Mrs. Lucas had worked as a cashier at the A&P Grocery and Mr. Grocer’s in York for many years.
She was a communicant of St. Christopher-by-the-Sea Church of York. She enjoyed playing bingo at the Frank Jones Center in Portsmouth and in Dover, N.H., and enjoyed cooking for her family. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, John L. Lucas, who died in 1985.
Survivors include four sons and their spouses, John R. "Pete" and Lorraine Lucas of South Berwick, Rodney J. and Rosemary Lucas of York, L. Michael and Charlotte Lucas of Middleton, N.H., and Ronald A. and Janis Lucas of Cape Neddick; three daughters and their spouses, Constance A. and Russell Akerley of Auburn, Maine, Christine F. and Bryant Currier of Cape Neddick, and Janet I. and James Welch of York Harbor; two brothers, John P. Elcik, III of Glen Byrne, Md., and Richard Elcik of Augusta, Maine; 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and her beloved cat, Owen.
Visiting hours will be Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Road in York. A funeral Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m., Friday in St. Christopher Church, York Street, York. Interment will be in First Parish Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beacon Hospice, 54 Atlantic Place, South Portland, Maine, 04106 or the American Cancer Society, N.E. Division, 30 Speen St., Framingham, Mass., 01701.
Lillian Marjorie Moulton
YORK - Lillian Marjorie Moulton, 73, of York, died on Wednesday, April 27, 2005, after a long illness.
Born in Berwick on Dec. 28, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Percy Day and Effie Morse Day.
She is survived by her five children, Patricia Mabey and her husband, Richard, of York, Robert Moulton and his wife, Joann, of Kittery Point, Judith Davis and her husband, James, of York, Elaine Morrison of Charleston, S.C., and Mark Moulton and his wife, Julia, of Lovell, Maine. She had 13 grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a sister, Thelma Mandeville of Kittery Point.
She is predeceased by two brothers, Harley Day and Edward Day.
Services will be private. Arrangements by the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Milton R. Swanson
YORK - Milton Read Swanson, 92, died Thursday, March 10, 2005, at York Hospital from congestive heart failure hastened by pneumonia.
A memorial service will be held May 7 at 2 p.m., at the First Parish, in Sudbury Center, Mass., on the corner of Route 27 and Concord Road. All are welcome to attend this celebration of his life.
He was the youngest son of Lena Pearl (Ray) and Fred Swanson and was born Dec. 4, 1912, in Malden, Mass.
Mr. Swanson was a 1933 graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture majoring in horticulture. After graduating from Stockbridge, he worked as a butcher with his father at the family owned grocery store, Swanson’s Market in Maplewood Square, Malden, Mass.
He was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1944 and taught at the Naval Training School TA, Sampson, (Geneva), N.Y., as an ensign, then was stationed at the Naval Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, N.J., as a coxswain. After an honorable discharge, he received a World War II Victory Medal for the American area.
In 1946, he began to look into other business opportunities and purchased the general store property in Marlborough/South Sudbury, Mass. from the late Henry and Clara Ford’s estate. Opening it as The Wayside Country Store in 1947 (to 1971), he and his wife, Edna, went on to make the store world-famous with their penny candy, cheddar cheese, fresh baked goods, and New England handicrafts. Their Memory Bucket of old-fashioned penny candy was featured on the "Today" show, and the "Jack Paar Show" along with local television shows. The store was frequented by stars of television, films, the circus, and rodeos from the day it opened with James Cagney as the first customer.
In 1958, they adopted Chow Mai Lew (Jean), age 6, from Hong Kong and in 1963 they adopted Mo Ching Yip (Holly), age 9, also from Hong Kong.
The Swansons also operated the Bearskin Neck Country Store (1956-1968) in Rockport, Mass., and the Hamilton Country Store in Hamilton, Mass. (1958-1960). Milton and Edna retired to Newburyport, Mass., in 1971 and for several years owned and operated a bakery, Swanson’s Butter Products in Salisbury, Mass.
He then sought to be closer to the ocean in 1974 and moved to York Beach where he worked full time baking bread and pies at Hector’s Country Kitchen restaurant in Rye, N.H., for 13 years.
Though he had a degree in horticulture, but never used it to support himself, Milton could still quote the Latin name of the plants around him, and he enjoyed many years of raising plants in his home greenhouse and on his properties.
He is survived by his two sons; his two adopted daughters, Jean Soda of York and Mo Ching Yip of Boracay, the Philippines; three grandsons, Steven Swanson of Meriden, Conn., Scott Swanson of Baker City, Ore., and Glen Swanson of South Carolina; and eight great grandchildren.
James S. Erwin
YORK HARBOR - James Shrewsbury Erwin, 84, of York Harbor, died July 14, 2005, at York Hospital after a short illness.
Mr. Erwin was born in New York City on Nov. 27, 1920, the son of James R. Erwin and the former Elizabeth Davidson. He grew up in Englewood, N.J., and spent his childhood summers on his mother’s family farm in South Berwick, today the site of Berwick Academy.
He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1942, enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II with the 6th Port Headquarters Company of the Artillery and Transportation Corps supporting the Allies’ invasion of North Africa, Italy and France. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1944 before being honorably discharged in 1946.
Mr. Erwin married the former Charlotte Anne Ruprecht, also of Englewood, in 1947. Following his graduation from Columbia University Law School in 1949, the Erwins moved to York, where he practiced law for most of the next 55 years, most recently with Erwin, Ott, Clark, Orso & Campbell.
He served as president of the Maine State Bar Association in 1967-68, as a member of the Committee on Judicial Disability and Responsibility of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and as a member of numerous other law-related organizations.
Mr. Erwin soon entered politics, serving terms in both the Maine House of Representatives and Senate. He was elected as Maine’s attorney general for three terms, serving from 1967 through 1972, during which time he established both criminal and environmental divisions and oversaw the development of statewide prosecutorial expertise in both areas. He served as chairman of the Maine delegation to the Republican National Convention in 1968. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 1970 and 1974.
Among his many interests, two ranked especially high. One was the Maine woods. In the 1960s, he and his wife owned and commercially operated Chairback Mountain Camps, a
hunting
and fishing camp on the Appalachian Trail near Monson. As attorney general, he chaired the Baxter State Park Authority, cherishing the opportunity to protect Gov. Baxter’s great gift to the people of Maine. In later years, he enjoyed fishing trips with family members and his best childhood friend to Pierce Pond.
His other special interest was York Hospital, which was originally located in his grandmother’s former home in York. He served on the board of trustees from 1952 to 1966 and from 1975 to 1990. As board president in the 1980s, Mr. Erwin led the hospital’s community-driven, grass-roots effort to survive by establishing - against strong regulatory resistance - critical services such as cardiac catheterization that are central to York Hospital’s success today as a community hospital. He was the chief architect and first chairman of the York Health Foundation, which was founded in 1984.
Mr. Erwin served many civic, charitable and professional organizations as trustee of the York School District, chairman of the York County Chapter of the American Red Cross, director of the Pine Tree Council, Boy Scouts of America, director of the Portsmouth Trust Company, trustee of Berwick Academy, director of Ocean National Bank, one of the original trustees of the Hartley Mason Reservation, and a member of the Maine, York and Kennebec County Bar Associations, the American Legion and VFW, York Harbor Reading Room, York Fish & Game Association, and the Volunteer Veteran Firemen’s Association of York Harbor, known as the Red Shirts.
He was an active member of the Masons, belonging to Maine Council No. 7, R.S. & M. (Saco), St. Amand Commandery No. 20 Knights Templar, St. Aspinquid Lodge, A.F. & A.M. No. 198 York, York County Shrine Club, Maine Royal Arch Chapter 73 Kittery, and Kora Temple AAONMS. He was a member of the First Parish Church for more than 50 years.
In 1970, Columbia University Law School awarded him its first "Progress with Promise" award. In 1991, the York Bar Association awarded him its first Law Day award.
Mr. Erwin is survived by his wife of 58 years, Anne, of York Harbor; four children, Shelley Erwin Simms and her husband, Bryan Simms, of Glendale, Calif., Sally Erwin Bodnar and her husband, Dr. Paul Bodnar, of Baltimore, Md., James R. Erwin and his wife, Eileen Erwin, of Yarmouth, and Jane Erwin Hammett and her husband, Robert Dorsett, of Alameda, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Anne Simms of San Francisco, Martha Simms of Glendale, Beth Bodnar of Baltimore, Benjamin Bodnar of New York City, and Jessie, Sarah and James S. Erwin III of Yarmouth; and a sister, Elizabeth Johnson of Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Erwin - James Shrewsbury Erwin, 84, of York Harbor, died July 14, 2005, at York Hospital after a short illness. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 20 at 2 p.m. at the First Parish Church on York Street in York. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made in Erwin’s memory to York Hospital, 15 Hospital Drive, York, Maine, 03909.
