Douglas Irish

SEBAGO — Douglas Irish, 83, passed away on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at Bridgton Hospital after a battle with cancer.

He was born in Sebago on Oct. 19, 1932. He was the oldest of three boys born to Franklin and Helen Irish. He graduated from Potter Academy in 1950 after which he joined the U.S. Navy, serving for four years. When he left the military, he worked as a truck driver for Merrill Transport, hauling fuel all over. This was his favorite job. He then worked for Burroughs Office Machines, which became Unisys Office Equipment and worked in Portland, Bangor and Atlanta, Ga., where he retired, then moved to Belleview, Fla. and here in Sebago from March through November.

Doug was close to a 50-year member of the Masons and he was also a 32nd degree Mason. In 2002, he joined Kora Shrine and became an active member of Kora Log Rollers and York County Shrine Club. Doug was always the first one to step up to help in any organization he belonged to and will be greatly missed. He also volunteered on the Narrow Gauge Railroad in Portland, which he loved.

When Doug lived in Orono, he married a lady with three boys — Tom Irish, (deceased) Jerry Irish and Ray Irish — whom he adopted. He brought up those three boys as his own, teaching them all he knew and the right way to treat others.

He volunteered for a neighborhood volunteer firehouse, helped build it and was fire chief. He loved to make things out of wood, always making toy boxes, hope chests and toys for gifts for grandchildren, as well as lots of other items for family and friends. Doug made some of the best maple syrup in this area. He learned to make it from his father, Franklin.

In 2001, Doug lost his wife, Wilma, to cancer and was single until 2012 when he found Virginia Stone (Ginny) and was married Aug. 11, 2012 after courting for a year. He accepted Ginny’s five adult children — three daughters, two sons. This meant a lot to Doug to have a real home again.

Survivors are his wife, Ginny of Sebago; two brothers, Ron Irish and Dick Irish, both of Sebago; sons, Ray Irish of Georgia and Jerry Irish of Bangor; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A (Shriners’) memorial service will be held at Sebago Cemetery, Hancock Pond Road, Sebago, on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

Should friends’ desire, in Doug’s memory, please make memorial donations to: Shrine Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or Bridgton Hospital, 10 Hospital Drive, Bridgton, ME 04009.