Obituaries from the week of 11/12/09

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey he moved to Bridgton as a child. He joined the Navy in 1962 and proudly served for four years as an electrician's mate. In 1969 he married Cynthia Ridlon of Bridgton. He worked several years for Howell Laboratories and later started his own business, Western Maine Industries in Harrison. In 1992 they moved to Bradenton, Florida. He and his son Jamie owned their own landscaping business. Ron spent time helping friends and neighbors. To know Ron was to love Ron. He was a devoted husband for 40 years, an incredible father and a very proud and loving Papa to his three grandchildren. 

He is survived by his wife Cyndy of Bradenton, Florida; son Jamie of Bradenton, Florida; daughter April and son-in-law Pete Hudson of Silverdale, Washington; three grandchildren; brothers, Gary of Bridgton, Dennis of Denmark; sisters, Barbara Knapp and Marilyn Drew of Bridgton.

A memorial service was held at Brown & Sons Funeral Home in Bradenton, Florida on November 7th.

Dan was born on Oct. 23, 1982, in Geneva, Ill., and attended the Yarmouth Public Schools. Dan attended both Yarmouth High School, as well as PATHS in Portland, and received his diploma from Yarmouth High School in 2001. Dan’s youth was spent between homes in Falmouth and Yarmouth, as well as Kezar Lake. His love for life, his natural ability to make friends wherever he went, and his mirthful smile and laughter are those qualities that will remain long in our memories. He loved all things with wheels, snowmobiling, water-skiing, and was a pushover for pups.

Dan is the loving son of James and Jane Murphy of Westbrook, and Louise Murphy and David Tobiason of Yarmouth. In addition to his parents he is survived by his grandfather, Donald Murphy of Hampshire, Ill.; sisters, Nora Kathleen Murphy of Boulder, Colo., and Caitlin Murphy Baldwin of Brownfield; and brothers, Geoff LeShane of St. Augustine, Fla., Scott LeShane of Portland, Samuel Murphy of Westbrook, and Hans Tobiason of Yarmouth; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services to celebrate Daniel’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 396 Gilman Rd., (Cousin's Island) Yarmouth. If you wish to make a donation to celebrate Dan’s life please visit www.heifer.org/myregistry/dan or send a donation to: Heifer Project International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, Arkansas 72202.

He was born in Clinton, the second son of Charline Libbey Abbott and Floyd Rowe Besse. He attended Bridgton Academy. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force as a tail gunner in B17s in flights over Germany. He was shot down in his last scheduled flight while dropping peace pamphlets, and the plane had to crash land in a field. All the crew survived. After World War II, he graduated from Carleton College in Minnesota. He later earned a master’s degree from New York University. He loved literature, art and music, and was a life long student of history, with a passion for justice and human rights. He taught for many years at Malverne High School on Long Island, N.Y., where he created one of the first black studies programs for secondary schools in the nation. After retirement from teaching, he split his time between Harrison in summers on a family island retreat, and in winters, at his amazing apartment in Lewiston, a town he came to love. He was an avid gardener, an enthusiastic dealer in antique glass, and a committed environmental activist. He was one of a kind — a mentor, a conservative, a liberal, a great friend to decent people and to all animals, especially cats. He was a no nonsense Maine “bodhisattva.”

He is survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

He was predeceased by his father; his mother; and his older brother, Belden A. Besse.

Private family services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers or rituals of grief, Voyle asked that you celebrate the joy of living. He requests that anyone who wishes to honor him in any way, plant a tree to live and flourish and add to the natural beauty of the good Earth. Condolences and a photo tribute may be accessed online at www.albert-burpee.com. Arrangements by Albert & Burpee Funeral Home.

He was born in Randolph, Mass. on Oct. 6, 1929, a son of the late George T. and Jeannette M. (Hollis) Erwin. Thomas had worked at the Armstrong Cork Company in Braintree, Mass., the Randolph, Mass. office of the Prudential Insurance Company and Jesse Kitchens in Kingston, Mass. He was a member of Foster Memorial Church, UCC of Springfield and was a member of the Puritan Masonic Lodge AF&AM of Whitman, Mass., a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rites Valley of Boston and a member of the Aleppo Temple Shrine in Wilmington, Mass. He enjoyed spending time at his vacation home in Naples, was a member of the Eastfield Mall Walkers Club in Springfield and was a participant in many Elderhostel Programs.

Tom is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara E. (Larson) Erwin; his two sons, Robert T. Erwin of Naples and Wayne R. Erwin of Sanford; his daughter, Nancy Brown of Goffstown, N.H.; his three granddaughters; his two grandsons; his three sisters, Ethel Davis of Abington, Mass., Marion Hirtle of Halifax, Mass. and Evelyn Martin of Quincy, Mass.; his brother, Walter R. Erwin of Whitman, Mass.; his 17 nieces and nephews, 19 grandnieces and grandnephews and seven great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. 

Arrangements are entrusted to the Sampson Family Chapels in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to the Church of Good Fellowship, PO Box 447, Naples, ME 04055 or to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.

She was born on May 30, 1925 in North Plainfield, N.J., the daughter of John and Ada Howell. Dorothy was one of nine siblings. Dorothy had worked at Pleasant Mountain Ski Area, Christmas Tree Inn, Patriquin Lodge, Sebago Moc Shoe Shop, and Importico’s in New Jersey. She was married to Elmer Clifton (Tony) Searles, who passed away on June 21, 1955. Her favorite flowers were lilacs and lilies of the valley. Dorothy enjoyed sharing time with her family, hearing stories about her grandchildren, children, nieces and nephews. She also very much enjoyed going out to dine.

She is survived by two sons, Gary Searles of Harrison and Brad Searles of South River, N.J.; two daughters Pamm Youker and Lynne Maxfield-Cole, both of Harrison; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Vera Importico of Long Beach Island, N.J.; and a brother, William Howell of Sarasota, Fla.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Mrs. Searles’ life on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. at Oxford Hills Funeral Services, 1037 Main Street, Route 26, in Oxford. Interment will follow at the South High Street Cemetery in Bridgton. Please join the family for a reception at the Olde Mill Tavern in Harrison after the interment. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy’s memory may be sent to the Maine Veterans Home, Residential Activity Care Program, 477 High Street, South Paris, ME 04281. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com

Beloved wife of the late Benjamin Franklin Hodges, Jr.; devoted mother of Janet Hodges of Arlington, Mass., Dana Hodges and his wife Dominique of Holden, Mass., Peter Hodges and his wife Cheryl of Belleview Fla., and Andrew Hodges and his wife Suzanne of Plantsville, Conn. Cherished sister of Mary Burns of So. Portland, Me., Martha Ann Chambers of Athens, Ga. and Richard White of So. Portland, Me. Loving grandmother of Kyle Hobson, Julie, Adam, Daniel, Kendall and Abigail Hodges and step-grandmother of Morgane, Sandrine and Jeremy Boiselle.

A Funeral Service will be held Friday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 25 Woburn St., Reading, Mass.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Sebago, Me. at 3 p.m. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 5–8 p.m. at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.), Reading, Mass. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Elizabeth’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, 1261 South Main St., Plantsville, CT 06479. For information, directions and register book visit johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com

He was born and raised in Caldwell, N.J. and moved to Maine in 1981 to start his own chimney sweep business. Here in Maine, he met and married LeeAnn Stone, who predeceased him in 2001. One of his passions was working on and riding his motorcycles.

Surviving him are his three children, Sean P. Schoonmaker of Clinton, Shannon L. Schoonmaker of Lewiston and Zachary P. Schoonmaker of Oxford; one grandchild; his father, Peter H. Schoonmaker of Casco; and three sisters, Anne R. Gonzalez-Mesa of Gresham, Oreg., Sara S. Riman of Harrison and Lisa S. Griffin of Casco.

She was born in Casco, the daughter of Willard M. and Gertrude Moody Chute. She worked as an office manager for Lake Region Lumber and also worked at Migis Lodge in South Casco. Ruth was a member of the Bridgton Road Christian Missionary Alliance Church in South Casco.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Floyd C. Chick.

She is survived by a son, Daniel Chick; two daughters, Mary Wyman and Margaret Oakes; a brother, Leander Chute; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.

Graveside services were held at the Murch Cemetery in South Casco. Arrangements were by Blais & Hay Funeral Home, Westbrook.

She was born in Portland on Oct. 13, 1962, the daughter of Pauline W. Ingalls and Carroll H. Ingalls. She attended South Portland schools and graduated in 1981. She married Charles I. Gemmell Jr. of Westbrook, and has a son, Michael C. Gemmell of Casco.

She was predeceased by her husband from a second marriage, Frank W. Fickett; her father, Carroll Ingalls; a sister, Rebecca Ingalls, and brother, Gregory Ingalls Sr.

She is survived by her mother, Pauline Ingalls of South Portland; a son, Michael Gemmell; a grandson; a brother, Donald Ingalls Sr.; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Visitation was held Tuesday at the Independent Death Care Chapel, 471 Deering Ave., Portland. A funeral service was held at the chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Interment was in Forest City Cemetery, South Portland. To offer words of condolence, sign a guest book and share memories go to the obituary page at www.independentdeathcare.com. It is the request of the family that memorial donations are made to: The Animal Refuge League, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04092.

He was born on Aug. 7, 1973, the son of Philip G. Cushman of Bridgton and Barbara Barnett. Sam was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman.

He is survived by his parents and brother, Max Cushman of California.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, Guy and Fannie