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Philip S. `Bud' Jewett
Philip S. `Bud' Jewett dies at 88
Philip `Bud' S. Jewett, a longtime sheep and dairy farmer in Gray, died unexpectedly on Thursday, June 25, at his Windham home. He was 88.
Bud Jewett was extremely active even into his 80s. Just recently, he stocked a trout pond with 225 brook trout in preparation for a fishfry on his birthday, which would have been October 10. He worked every day in his gardens, and just last winter helped deliver 189 lambs.
He loved his family, his sheep, his gardens and country fairs. He was particularly proud that two of his grandsons, Phil and Bill Webster, both of Windham, followed in his footsteps by having sheep herds of their own.
He was born in Skowhegan, a son of Albert A. and Belle P. Sanborn Jewett. He attended Skowhegan schools, and graduated from Skowhegan High School in 1927.
After graduation, Jewett moved to Standish to manage a herd of Jersey cattle for Dr. Smith. He stayed there for 11 years until Dr. Smith's death, after which he became a logger with his uncle, Fred Sanborn. During this period of his life, he also did some logging for Karl Merrill, of Gray, who eventually asked Bud to manage his farm.
So once again Bud Jewett was doing what he enjoyed most, working the land and caring for animals. He worked for Karl until the farm was sold to Mike and Marilyn Wilson in 1961. Knowing a good person when they saw one, the Wilsons kept Bud on until he `retired' in 1995.
During his more than 50 years on the farm, Bud made many friends among the townspeople of Gray. In later years, he was often seen caring for sheep at the home of Jim and Susan Gillies.
Surviving are two daughters, Fredonna Webster, of Windham, and Mary E. Moody, of Torrington, CT, 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. His wife, Gwendolyne H. McVicar Jewett, died in 1992.
Christina M. Hirning
1998-07-31
Christina M. Hirning, age 79, of Rustic Road, Gray, died Tuesday at a Windham health care facility after a long illness. Born in Portland, she was a daughter of Albert A. and Mary Bonvie Doiron. She was a 1938 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in Portland (now Catherine McCauley High School).
During World War II, Mrs. Hirning worked at Fort Williams. She had also worked for Owen Moore in Portland, GMC Trucks in South Portland and MacDonald-Paige in Portland. She retired in 1985. Mrs. Hirning enjoyed gardening, auctions, music and dancing, but her greatest pastime was her family.
Her husband Frederick E. Hirning, Sr., died in 1997 and a son, David M. Gerardo died in 1992. Surviving her are 3 sons: Peter T. Gerardo of Gray; John E. Gerardo of Standish and Joseph R. Gerardo of New Gloucester; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter.
The family suggests contributions be made to the charity of one's choice.
Elizabeth Clement Beverage
1998-07-31
Loving mother and grandmother Elizabeth Clement Beverage, 83 died Thursday at her residence in New Gloucester.
Born in Portland, the daughter of Wesley and Annie Clement Freese, she attended local schools, graduating from Westbrook Junior College.
Mrs. Beverage lived in New Gloucester 44 years and attended the First Congregational Christian Church of New Gloucester. She belonged to several associations, including the Order of Eastern Star, Gold Star Wives of America, New Gloucester Congregational Evening Guild, Roach Pond Improvement Assn., American Society of Clinical Pathologists and the N.Y., and 13 great-grandchildren.
David Wilkinson
1998-09-11
David Wilkinson, 65, a longtime resident of Gray who was born in New Gloucester, died Tuesday, September 6.
He had been road commissioner for the Town of Gray for 16 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Gray, the National Rifle Association and the Sportsmen's Alliance of California; and his stepfather, Paul Walker, of Lewiston.
Memorial donations may be made to Gray Rescue, P.O. Box 258, Gray, ME 04039.
All of us at The Gray News send our most sincere condolences to his wife Yvonne, who for many years has been a member of the Board of Directors of this newspaper, and to his entire family.
Mr. Wilkinson's many friends and admirers in Gray will miss him.
David Wilkinson
1998-09-18
The obituary for David Wilkinson, who passed away September 1, should have included his employment at Kassbohrer of North America and the YWCA in Lewiston, as well as his service in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954.
Donald Melvin Christie
1998-10-02
First superintendent of Gray-New Gloucester School District
Gray resident Donald Melvin Christie, 90, a retired science teacher and superintendent of schools in Bethel and Gray, died Sunday, September 27, in Norway, after a brief illness.
Born in Orneville, Maine, from which he received his master's degree in Education.
For many summers, beginning in his high school years, he worked at the Atlantic House in Scarborough Beach; during World War II, he did summer work in the South Portland shipyard. He taught in schools in Maine, and was principal of Buckfield High School before he moved, in 1946, to Bethel, to become Superintendent of Schools.
He married Dorothy Doble, of Milo, on September 2, 1937. They had two children: a daughter, Dawne Frances, who became a classical pianist and was elected Miss Maine's mountain trails.
Once retired, he continued to tend his large garden, and, at his children's suggestion, enthusiastically took up golf, laying down his clubs only when illness prevented him from venturing out on the links and planting his garden. He was a Boy Scout leader in Buckfield and Bethel, and an active member of the Gray Kiwanis, from which he received the `Kiwanian of the Year' award in 1988 and 1991.
In addition to his very active outdoor life, Mr. Christie was a great reader, preferring biographies and works of history and poetry. A sometime poet himself, his greatest accomplishment was the fulfillment of his long-time desire to explore the Christie family tree 10 generations back to the birth of Jesse Christie in Scotland. Beginning in October of 1979, and continuing for five years, this quest was his passion, as he taught himself the rudiments of genealogical research and embarked upon travels throughout New Brunswick and the Northeast and Midwest, spending countless hours poring over deeds and other public records, visiting graveyards and talking and corresponding with hundreds of people who might reveal a previously lost family tie.
This labor of love culminated in the publication in 1985 of A Christie Family History and Genealogical Record Covering Thirteen Generations (1672 to the present), followed in 1991 by a second volume, A Genealogy of Jesse Christy (Christie) (1672-1739). He alone wrote and revised, typed, printed and assembled both of these volumes in his home, before sending copies out to far-flung family members and to libraries and historical societies in their communities. Correspondence with many grateful and interested family members, some newly discovered, some coming from far way to visit in person, continued until his death.
Mr. Christie is survived by his wife of 61 years; his son, Donald M., Jr., of Poughkeepsie, NY; two sisters, Warena Farnham, of Brownville Junction, and Edna Dunfee, of Orange City, FL; and two grandchildren. His older brother, Lindon, and his daughter, Dawne Shisler, had died before him.
A memorial service will be held at the Gray Congregational Church at 2 P.M. on Saturday, October 3.
Contributions can be made in his memory to Stephens Memorial Hospital, 181 Main Street, Norway, ME 04268.
Waldron Frank Ashley Sr.
1998-10-16
Waldron Frank Ashley Sr., 83, died Sunday (10/11/98) at a Windham nursing home. He was born in Flagstaff, ME on September 7, 1915, the son of Frank Waldron and Annie Ellen Wahl Ashley at graduated from local schools.
Mr. Waldron Ashley was a self-employed Master Electrician based in Cumberland. He served his country during W.W.II as a Fireman 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy. He received the Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal. During the war in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the United States Coast Guard Reserves. Mr. Ashley belonged to the Knights of Pythias, loved working, cribbage, and country music. He was a longtime resident of Bolster Heights Nursing home in Auburn.
Predeceased are his wife of 43 years Gertrude Nellie Tibbetts Ashley who died in 1986 and two brothers; Cleo Ashley and Harold Ashley.
Surviving are three sons; Dr. Marshall D. Ashley of Dominican Republic, Mark P. Ashley of Gray, Waldron F. Ashley Jr. of Vernon, CT. Three daughters; Maureen C. Arsenault of Ellsworth, Marie E. Rand of Spokane, WA and Gertrude E. (Trudy) Foster of Gray, 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Sunday at 3 P.M. at the First Congregational Christian Church of New Gloucester. Pastors Nicholas and Mary Angela Davis will officiate. Arrangements were by Wilson Funeral Home in Gray.
Ella Dow Tayman
1999-01-01
Ella Dow Tayman, 72, of Gray, died December 25 at a Portland nursing home.
Born in Portland, Mrs. Tayman was the daughter of Reverend Chauncey and Ella Dow Harding. She graduated from Winslow High School, and worked at Songo Shoe and Fairchild. She married Melvin E. Tayman in 1947. She was an avid Boston Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots fan.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1992. Mrs. Tayman is survived by two sons, Robert E. Tayman, of Gray, and Richard E. Tayman, of Portland; two brothers, Charles Harding, of Naples, FL, and Lawrence Harding, of Portland; one sister, Elizabeth Pettingill, of Kissimee, FL; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services were private. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
