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MERRILL E. "JOHN" NOBLE
DEXTER Merrill "John" Noble, 69, died March 3, 2001 at a Dexter health care facility following a long battle with cancer. He was born January 18, 1932 at Skowhegan the son of Parker and Edna (Lewis) Noble. He graduated from Skowhegan High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving in the Medical Corps. He was an executive at Dexter Shoe Company for 40 years, retiring at age 65. John was a communicant of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Dexter and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was predeceased by a sister, Phyllis Breard of Skowhegan.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Margaret (Shinay) Noble of Dexter; 2 daughters, Nancy Benoit and husband Norman of Litchfield, Susan Scott and husband Mike of Slidell, LA; 2 sons, John and wife Joan of Chapel Hill, TN, Mark and wife Crystal of Scarborough; 6 grandchildren, Summer Davis, Trevor, Keely and Kara Scott, Sasha and Kyle Noble; several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Upon his request there will be no visiting hours or public viewing. Christian burial prayers will be recited Friday at the Maine Veterans Memorial Chapel in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, 52 Federal Street, Brunswick 04011. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Dexter.
IDA M. MCNAIR
DEXTER - Ida M. McNair, wife of the late Archibald McNair, died March 4, 2001, at a Bangor nursing home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Dexter.
MARION ELLA (NANA) PATTERSON
GUILFORD, Marion Ella (Nana) Patterson, 70, died March 6, 2001 at the home of her companion, Albert Lockwood in Parkman after a brave battle with cancer. She was born Feb. 13, 1931 in Guilford, daughter of Berlin and Velma (Priest) Trafton. She attended Guilford schools and earned her GED later in life. She also completed a nurse's aide course and became a Certified Nurses Aide. Marion worked at the former Snow Flake Freezing Plant in Corinna and the Maine Leathers Tannery in Dover-Foxcroft until it closed. She also worked several years at Dexter Shoe in Dexter and in more recent years worked for 18 years as an outreach worker for the Eastern Agency on Aging until her retirement. She was genuinely interested in community and veterans affairs. She served on the Project Maine Street '90 Committee as chair of the Veterans Honor Roll Project to see the honor roll placed in Bank Square. And, in 1998, she worked with a committee to repair and update the honor roll. She had received trophies annually for the past five years for participation in the VJ Parade in Moosup, CT. honoring the U.S. Military victory in Japan during World War II to honor the memory of her brother, Wilbur Trafton, who was killed in action at Iwo Jima. She also participated in the annual Memorial Day parade locally every year. A former member of the VFW Auxiliary in Dover-Foxcroft and the Guilford Evening Extension, she was a very active member of the Conner- Trafton Post 29, and the American Legion Auxiliary in Guilford for 29 years having served as President three different times and was currently Secretary. She joined the Guilford Historical Society soon after it was organized nearly 17 years ago and had served as Secretary before becoming President in 1997, an office she held at the time of her death.
Besides her brother, Wilbur, she was predeceased by three other brothers, Bernard, Claire, and Carroll Trafton; her husband, Basil Patterson in 1975; and her daughter, Doria Thornley, in 1993. She leaves her companion, Albert Lockwood of Parkman; a son, Robert Trafton of Dover-Foxcroft; a son-in-law, James Rathburn of Guilford; a brother, Berlin Trafton of Guilford; a sister, Mildred Dumphey of Mexico; four grandchildren, James Rathburn and Jarret Rathburn both of Ohio, Jay Rathburn of Lebanon and Jeana O'Malley of Portland; six great-grandchildren.
Friends may call Friday, March 9, 2001, from 2 to 5 PM at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 21 Oak St., Guilford. Graveside services will be held in the spring at the Village cemetery in Abbot. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to the Guilford Historical Society, P.O. Box 893, Guilford, ME 04443.
JEAN G. SEEDS
NEWPORT - Jean G. Seeds, 88, died March 8, 2001 at a Pittsfield hospital. She was born February 2, 1913 at Ayr, Scotland the daughter of William and Bertha (Boyd) Gallagher. She retired from General Motors Corporation of Trenton, New Jersey in 1974. She was a member of United Autoworkers Local 731. Jean and her husband moved to Maine in 1985. She was an Episcopalian by faith.
She is survived by her husband, James of Newport.
Following cremation, her ashes are to be scattered at sea. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Newport.
LUCY M. TOY
PLYMOUTH - Lucy M. Toy, 57, died March 9, 2001 at her Pearl Lane residence. She was born May 25, 1943 at Boston the daughter of Frank and Bernice (Bumpus) Perry. Lucy was a kind and loving person who will be missed by her family and friends.
She is survived by her step-father, Joseph Krakowski of Plymouth, Mass.; one son Joseph Toy of Plymouth, (ME) 4 daughters, Bernice and husband Allen Pearl of Plymouth, Brenda Lee Toy of Rhode Island, Janet and husband Steven Kennedy of Carver, Mass, Josephine and husband Joseph Goulart of Fall River, Mass; 12 grandchildren, Alicia, Elizabeth, Eric, Margaret, Angela, and Melissa Pearl, Jessica and Brandon Toy, Haley and RileyKennedy, Brian and Kristin Goulart.
Funeral services will be held 2 P.M. Tuesday, March 13th at Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Newport, with the Rev. Herbert Pearl officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 P.M. until the time of services. Spring burial will be in Sawyer Cemetery, Plymouth.
HAROLD VERHEY
PALMYRA - Harold VerHey, 76, died March 11, 2001 at his Raymond Road residence. He was born September 1, 1924 at Holland, Michigan, the son of Nicholas and Hattie (Vanden Brink) VerHey. He was the middle child of 11 children. Harold served in the U. S. Navy aboard the Nevada and was a past member of the VFW.
He is survived by his wife Gloria (Rainey) VerHey of Hartland; a son, Harold, Jr. and wife Katherine of Hartland; 7 daughters, Sandra Dickey, Deborah and husband Aaron Neal, all of Palmyra, Linda and husband Wayne Knight of St. Albans, Sherry and husband Brent Brooks of Newport, Nancy Moran of Skowhegan, Joan and husband Stephen Munn of Hartland, and Andrea Fillingim of Silsbee, TX; 2 brothers, Robert VerHey of Holland, MI and Kenneth VerHey of FL; 5 sisters, Major (Retired) Hazel VerHey, Jean Johnson, and Joyce DeWaard all of Holland, MI, Wilma Welch of Nashwak, MI and Irene DiGiglio of NJ; 15 grandchildren, including a very special grand-daughter, Dorothy A. Monti, who lived with him and was his caregiver during his illness; 21 great grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren (due in March and April). He was predeceased by 3 brothers, Raymond, Donald, Sr. and William, a daughter, Gretchen and 2 infant sons. The family would like to give a special thank-you to Dr. Gerald "Ty" Hopkins, and the Hospice workers including Harold's nurse Sam.
Friends may call 7 9 P.M. Wednesday at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Newport, where funeral services will be held 10 A. M. Thursday, March 15th with the Rev. Ronnie Parker officiating. Spring burial will be in the family lot, Pine Grove Cemetery, Hartland.
JEAN E. LAWRENCE
ETNA - Jean E. Lawrence, 53, died unexpectedly March 12, 2001 at her Camp Etna residence. She was born February 3, 1948 at Boston the daughter of Albert and Marion (Hughes) MacFadyen. Jean was predeceased by her husband George Lawrence.
She is survived by her father of Digby County, Nova Scotia; a son Edward Rose of Gloucester, MA; a twin sister, Alma Sander of Etna; 2 grandsons.
There will be no services at this time. A memorial service will be held in the summer at Camp Etna. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Newport.
DOROTHY MAY CROUSE
DEXTER - Dorothy May Crouse, 78, died March 12, 2001 at a Bangor health care facility. She was born May 6, 1922 at Worcester, MA, the daughter of Frederick and Aurora (Alston) Greene. She attended Worcester schools and then after moving to Dexter, attended N. H. Fay High School. In 1939, she married the late Keith W. Crouse. She worked for many years as a sales clerk for Rexall Pharmacy in Dexter. She was past president and member of the Dexter Junior Literary Club.
She is survived by 3 sons; Barry and his wife, Dodie Crouse of Abbot, Jere and his wife, Sharon Crouse of Chittenango, NY and Frederick Crouse of Sangerville; 6 grandchildren, Kathy, Shane, Lynn, Jennifer, Carrie, and Chelsie; 5 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Due to an illness in the family, funeral arrangements will be delayed. Friends may call 4 to 6 P.M., Friday, March 30th, at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 61 Main Street, Dexter, where funeral services will be held 2 P.M. Saturday, March 31th with the Rev. Lois Merrifield officiating. Spring burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter.
OSCAR K. ULMAN
SANGERVILLE & MONSON - Oscar K. Ulman, 82, died March 12, 2001 at the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor. He was born April 6, 1918 at Bangor the son of Oscar and Seena (Korsman) Ulman. Oscar graduated from Monson Academy, Class of 1936. He then attended barber school and operated his own barber shop in Guilford for several years. At the start of WW II, he went to work at the Quincy (Mass.) Shipyard, and later in the war, joined the Army. He retired as a mechanic, having worked for Great Northern Paper Company and Scott Paper Company. He was a member of Columbia-Doric Lodge # 149 AF & AM in Greenville, the Bangor Scottish
Rite bodies, and the Anah Temple Shrine in Bangor. Oscar was also a member of Towne-Holmbolm Post American Legion in Monson.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma (Weymouth) Ulman of Sangerville; 4 sons, Oscar and wife Patricia of Millinocket, William and wife Esther of Florida, Carl of Hermon and Robert of NH; a daughter, Holly and husband Alan Melia of Monson; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren.
There will be no services at this time. Spring graveside committal services will be held at Lakeside Cemetery, Monson. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Guilford.
RONALD C. LILE
ETNA - Ronald C. Lile, 66, died March 13, 2001 at a Bangor hospital after a long illness. He was born August 23, 1934 at Klamath Falls, Oregon the son of Tom and Clara (Kerley) Lile. He graduated from high school in Boise, Idaho and then joined the U. S. Navy serving in the submarine corps during the cold war. He served in the Navy for 22 years, retiring as a Master Chief. He was a communicant of St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield, where he was a former member of the Knights of Columbus. Ron was a member of V.F.W. Post 11191 of Newport.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Charlotte (Calhoun) Lile of Etna; his 3 children, Karen Lile of Dover, NH, David Lile of Etna, and Jennifer Draper of Etna; his two beloved grandchildren, Catherine Draper, Age 6, and Samuel Draper, Age 4; his two brothers, George Shaber of Boise, ID, and Jack Lile of CA.
There will be no visiting hours. A memorial mass will be celebrated at a later date. Interment will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial cemetery in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 122 State Street, Augusta 04330. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Newport.
BEATRICE N. BILLINGS
PITTSFIELD - Beatrice N. Billings, 68, died Sunday, March 18, 2001. She was born Nov. 22, 1932, in Pittsfield, the daughter of Herbert and Hildred (Conroy) Newhouse. She graduated from MCI in the Class of 1951. She earned her associates degree at Husson College. She married Donald M. Billings on April 5, 1954, in Pittsfield. He died in 1994. She worked for the Maine National Bank before she worked for Brown's Clothing and Shoes, which she later purchased and operated for many years until she retired in 1993. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Egg Festival Committee from its inception until she took ill, approximately 20 years. She was treasurer for the Community Christmas Project, class agent for MCI and former Girl Scout leader.
Survivors include a son, David Billings of Alfred; a son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Debra Billings of Pittsfield; grandchildren, Kait and Nick; a brother and sister-in-law, George and Leah Newhouse; several nieces and nephews; a very special friend, Pat Bickford of Pittsfield.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 at D. H. Shorey Funeral Chapel, 35 Hartland Ave. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at D.H. Shorey Funeral Chapel. Spring burial will be in Village Cemetery, Pittsfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Christmas Project, care of Earl Dean, RR 1 box 3890, Pittsfield, ME 04967.
PRUDENCE HATCH MCMANN
WATERVILLE - Prudence Hatch McMann, 54, of Waterville, died Monday, February 26, 2001, at her home surrounded by loving family after living life to the fullest for the past three years with cancer.
She was born February 16, 1947, in Dexter, daughter of the deceased Lloyd Harvey Hatch and Shirley Ellms Hatch. She attended Dexter schools, graduating from Dexter High School in 1965.
She married Brian McMann in 1965 and lived with him in Pennsylvania until they returned to Maine in 1968 following his graduation from college. After living in Winslow and South China they moved to Skowhegan in 1973, where they continued to raise their two sons, residing there until 1987, when they moved to Waterville.
During the early years of her adult life, Prudy volunteered in various -ommunity and school activities while raising their sons. She was an active campaigner of many environmental and civic causes, including her efforts in passage of the returnablebottle bill. She was selected Young Woman of the year in 1970 by the Waterville Club as a result of her efforts.
After moving to Skowhegan, she volunteered in the school system, which eventually led to her employment as a remedial reading aide. During this time she enrolled in various classes at the University of Maine at Farmington and in 1982 became a full-time student. She graduated from UMF with honors in the Class of 1986 and began teaching in the Skowhegan school system. During summers she continued further studies at the University of New Hampshire, Thomas College, and various other writing classes and conferences. In 1987 she became a teacher in the Maine Migrant Education Program at MSAD 54. In 1996 she started the Migrant Education Program at Waterville High School, where she continued until she was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1997 and retired in 1998. Throughout this period, Prudy continued her pursuit of writing and living each day to the fullest. She enjoyed gardening, reading, being at home with her family, and especially their island retreat at Lake Moxie. The past three years provided the opportunity for her to focus on the completion of her recently published book. "On Main Street: A Memoir." Prudy has received many letters, with readers expressing that the book evoked fond memories of their childhood.
Survivors include her husband, Brian; two sons, Christopher and his wife, Karen, of North Andover, MA., and Andrew and his wife Angela, and three special granddaughters, Ragan, Lauren and Kate, of Southborough, MA.; her mother, Shirley E. Hatch, of Dexter; three sisters, E. Randy Hatch and her husband Glenn Dailey of Eliot, Sarah Malley and her husband, Tom Morgan of Banjul, Gamhia, Africa; nieces, Deirdre Malley, Anne and Rebecca Dailey, and nephews, Julian and Malachis Morgan; special in-laws including Eileen (McMann) Wright of Newport, and Alice "Lala" Sullivan of Lowell MA.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on March 3rd at the Notre Dame Catholic Church, Waterville, with Rev. Ralph Boisvert officiating.
In lieu of flowers it was requested that donations be made to the Dexter Historical Society, c/o Rick Whitney, Dexter ME 04930; or Mount Merici Elementary School, 142 Western Ave., Waterville ME 04901.
GWENDOLYN "GWEN" M. LANCASTER
DEXTER - Gwendolyn "Gwen" M. Lancaster, died March 16, 2001, after a brief illness. She was 82. born in Corinna, Aug. 24, 1918, Mrs. Lancaster was the fourth of Herbert and Flossie (Walker) Russell's five daughters. She was raised in Dexter and attended N.H. Fay High School before marrying Harold "Dutch" Lancaster in 1934. As a young wife and mother during the Depression years, Mrs. Lancaster also worked outside the home. She is fondly remembered as a cook at both the Sterling Hotel and the school cafeteria, and she eventually became a waitress at the Scenic Restaurant in downtown Dexter, where she delighted in catering to her appreciative patrons. Later, over the protestations of her husband, she began a new career as a weaver at the Eastland Woolen Mills, from where she retired. She served as a local Girl Scout leader and was an active member of the Dexter Women's Literary Club and the First Universalist Church. Mrs. Lancaster was an avid reader, especially of biographies and enjoyed music, theatre and the arts. She took great pride in her appearance and worked out daily. She kept herself current on popular culture and fashion. She was a world-class traveler and especially enjoyed visiting her daughter and son-in-law, wherever their military assignments found them. She was a prolific letter writer and took great pleasure in documenting her many adventures. Energy, industry, creativity, generosity, keen awareness and enjoyment characterized her life. Mrs. Lancaster suffered a stroke in 1992, which left her partially paralyzed and unable to speak or write. While it severely curtailed her mobility, her infirmity did not destroy her spirit. Her enthusiasm for life, cheerful disposition and positive attitude remained undiminished, despite recurring ailments that would have discouraged a saint. She persisted through adversity to regain her independence and sustain her self esteem. Up to the end, she took an active interest in current events, kept herself entertained and labored tirelessly so as not to burden those who cared for her. In this regard, she was an inspiration to those more physically and mentally advantaged. Though slim in physical stature, her departure leaves an immense void in the lives of her family and friends. She was and will continue to be remembered as quite a lady. Mrs. Lancaster was predeceased by her husband in November of 1989 and was engaged to be married to Clarence "Hank" Harrington until his untimely death in 1993.
Surviving family includes daughter, Beverly and her husband, Ron Goldstone of Dexter; a son, Ronald Lancaster of Durango, Mexico; daughter-in-law, Joan Lancaster of Hallowell; a sister, P. Frances Sweetser of Marlborough, Mass.; two granddaughters; a great-granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. She is already sadly missed by a loyal, loving companion of 14 years, her dog, Oliver.
A public memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2001, at the First Universalist Church of Dexter. Spring Interment will be in Corinna Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Lancaster's name to the Dexter Historical Society, P.O. Box 481, Dexter, Me 04930. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Dexter.
