OBITUARIES for Thursday, April 24, 2025

WALTER E. PEARL

OAKLAND – Walter Edward Pearl, 74, died at his home on Sunday, March 16, 2025, following several years of failing health.

Born in Waterville, June 2, 1950, he was the son of Walter E. Pearl Sr. and Thelma Hussey Pearl.

Ed spent his childhood in Winslow and was a member of the Winslow High School class of 1969. He was known for his sense of humor, quick wit, mischief-making and love of music. He was a vocalist in a local band, The Imposters, and a percussionist in the high school band. It was also during this time that Ed became an Eagle Scout.

Following high school he worked for several local businesses, including his father’s Crown Inc., where he learned auto mechanics, and the K2 Ski Company, in Winslow, where he was a member of the demo team and tuned skis for world cup ski racers. He was often seen skiing the slopes of Sugarloaf. After marrying Susan Wells and moving to the Clearwater, Florida, area, where they lived for nearly a decade, Ed returned to Maine, divorced and fulfilled his dream of living at the lake.

He settled in Oakland and established a successful painting business, Pearl Painting, from which he retired after nearly 25 years. For many years he was em­ployed part time by New England Country Music Festivals as an assistant concert promoter and stage manager.

Ed took great pride in his home, making many improvements and establishing beautiful gardens, commenting often on how much he loved living there. A man of many interests, he enjoyed woodworking, furniture restoration, fishing, boating, photography, loon and eagle watching and listening to his large collection of vinyl record albums and CDs. Ed enjoyed telling a great story (often embellished), reminiscing with friends and family and hosting gatherings.

Heading out on the lake in his Stingray was always an adventure.

He graciously volunteered his time, talent, and expertise to many local organizations in the Waterville-Oakland area including the Town of Oakland’s Waterfront Park gazebo construction project and the Messalonskee Lake Association. For many years he was a dedicated and valued volunteer at the Humane Society Waterville Area where he spent countless hours assisting in any way he could. The many cats that he adopted were, indeed, very lucky felines!

Ed is survived by his sister Mary McNeil and her husband George, of Steep Fall;, his niece Caitlin McNeil Lincoln, husband Joshua and daughter Nina, of Brunswick; his nephew Christian Milneil, wife Jessica and daughters Mona and Maxine, of Portland; several cousins.

An opportunity to share memories of Ed with family and friends is planned for the summer.

Memorial donations in Ed’s name may be sent to Humane Society Waterville Area, 100 Webb Rd., Waterville ME 04901.

GARY A. BUSSELL

WINSLOW – Gary Alan Bussell, 64, passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Gary was born in Hartland to Raymond E. and Loretta (Berube) Bussell, in November 1960.

Gary continued to live most of his life in Somerset County working at various jobs. In August 2003, he married Roxanne Williams. They had several years of happiness until her death in May 2021. After that, due to declining health, he resided at Halldale Manor’s assisted living facility, in Farmingdale.

To his dying day, Gary was proud of his 30 years of sobriety. He often spoke of his “Higher Power” helping him maintain that sobriety. During those years, he chaired many AA meetings and helped several others through tough times. His hobbies included playing/teaching cribbage to whoever he could talk into a game of it, fishing, old western movies, and coloring and card games on his iPad.

Gary will be remembered for his natural instincts for caregiving, his kindness to others and a wonderful sense of humor. His caring attributes endeared him to many staff members and residents while living at Halldale Manor.

He is survived by his children, Mallory (Elliott) Newton, Brandy and Felicia Boutilier; siblings Elizabeth French, Lewis (Karla) Bussell, Randy Robinson, Harland (Debbie) Bussell, Karen Golden, and Donna Sullivan; also, six grandchildren; two uncles; several cousins; nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was predeceased by his spouse, Roxanne; his parents Raymond and Lorretta Bussell; and his sister, Pauline Avery.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 8, at 2 p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 21 Silver St., Skowhegan. Light snacks will be provided. The family desires no flowers.

Please visit Gary’s memorial page https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/gary-bussell where condolences, photos, and special memories may be shared.

ALICE R. KING-STARKE

WINSLOW – Alice Marie Regina (Bizier) King-Starke passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, following a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., on Friday, May 2, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver St., Waterville. A burial will be held after the Mass in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Grove St., Waterville. To read Alice’s full obituary please visit http://www.gallantfh.com.

CHRISTINE N. GAY

AUGUSTA – Christine (Duplessis) (Newell) Gay, 98, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 11, 2025, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care at Glenridge. She was born in Augusta, May 20, 1926, the daughter of Zepherin and Irene (Desruisseux) Duplessis, .

Christine was educated in the Augusta schools before becoming employed at Taylor Shoe and Hallowell Shoe where she worked for 29 years. She finished out her career with the State of Maine Bureau of Public Improvements in 1988.

Christine met and married Harvard (Hardy) and they shared 61 years of marriage before his passing in 2024. They enjoyed snowmobiling, motorcycling, camping and traveling throughout the country, their most memorable trip being a road trip to Alaska and back.

Christine enjoyed hosting holiday and family gatherings and was a wonderful cook. Many enjoyed her recipes. For years Christine had a very large garden and canned her harvest that would last throughout much of the year.

Christine was predeceased by her husband Hardy, her parents, son Peter Newell, sister Rita Valliere, brothers George, Richard and Donald Duplessis, sisters-in-law, Lilly and Diana Duplessis, niece Rachel Bumford, stepdaughter Melody Gay and stepson Edward Gay.

Survivors include her grandson, Jeffrey Newell; stepson Harvard Gay, Jr.; stepdaughter Melinda Simon (Pete); sisters-in-law Priscilla Duplessis, Kay, Hilda and Jeanette Gay; brother-in-law Charles Freeman; along with several nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a family graveside service at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mid-Maine Cremation Services, Waterville.

HAROLD J. POIRIER

WATERVILLE – Harold Joseph Poirier passed on Monday, April 14, 2025. He was was born to Flora Young Poirier and Emile Poirier.

His greatest joy in his life was his family and friends. Harold was an avid gardener and loved golfing.

He was the youngest plant manager in the history of C. F. Hathaway Shirt Company, in Waterville. He was the plant manager in Calais, Dover Foxcroft, and Waterville.

Harold was predeceased by his parents; and his brothers Richard and Paul Poirier and his sister, Jeannette Hall.

Harold is survived by the love of his life and best friend, Marianne; his son, Mark and his wife Laudith Poirier; his stepdaughter, Lisa and husband Richard Pomerleau; his granddaughters, Jessica and husband Mike Bailey and their son Lucas and daughter Katie, Jordyn and husband Jake Crosby, Nyki Poirier; and grandsons Byron Sears and daughter Gracelyn; granddaughter, Laura and husband Anthony Cole and children Liam, Alister, and Elle; grandson, Miah and wife Brittany Pomerleau and son, Layton; many aunts, uncles and cousins from Québec, Canada; nieces and nephews in Maine.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, located at 116 Silver St., Waterville.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolence and memory shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Harold to a charity of your choice.

JUDITH A. MAYO

CHINA – Judith A. Mayo, 85, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at her home in China. Judy was born on December 27, 1939, a daughter of Donald and Elsa (Becker) Gordon.

Judy grew up in Weeks Mills and attended Erskine Academy, in South China. On October 5, 1957, she married John Gibson Mayo and the two settled in China where Judy was an exemplary homemaker.

Judy was a talented craftswomen and created many pieces for her family and friends through her skill of knitting, crocheting, sewing, cross stitching, quilting, and rug braiding. She was constantly working on a project that involved the work of her hands and her experience often yielded sound advice to those working on their own projects. In her retirement years, many winters were enjoyed in Yuma, Arizona, alongside her husband, John.

Judy will be remembered as an honest and independent woman and as a devoted matriarch who loved her family dearly.

She was predeceased by her parents; and her husband of 67 years, John G. Mayo.

Judy is survived by her children, Monte Mayo and his partner, Karin Sullivan, Mia-Jo Nguyen and her husband Ninh, and Mira-Su Thurston and her husband, Michael; grandchildren, Samantha Hayes, Alexander Thompson and his wife Alyssa, and Koriana Thompson; great-grandchildren, Anastasia Thompson and Aubriella Thompson.

No services are being held at this time.

Arrangements have been entrusted to: Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Rd., Windsor, ME 04363. Condolences, stories and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Judy’s name may be made to Weeks Mills Fire Department, 778 Dirigo Rd., China, ME 04358.