BIDDEFORD – Earle Roger Rumery, 88, of Oak Lane, died Sunday, July 24, 2005, at the St. Andres health-care facility in Biddeford. He was born in Biddeford in 1917, lived with his parents, Jessie and Jeannette in Philmont, N.Y. as a youth. He graduated from Thornton Academy in 1936, worked first as a lobsterman, then breeder of white mice for American Research laboratories at his parents Granite Point residence before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1940. To prepare for his role in that endeavor he graduated from Wentworth Institute in Boston, then as a technical Sergeant maintaining propeller, mostly on B-17 bombers in England for two years. Returning home in 1944, he continued his lobstering career, but in 1952 he became manager of the legendary Marblehead boatyard on the Saco River. In that capacity, he supervised the building of more than 900 Marblehead cruisers, designed by the famous marine architect, Walter McInness, before founding the Rumery Boatyard at historic Biddeford wharves. He was an ardent sportsman, enjoyed fishing and hunting in the Great North Woods. As many of his associates observed over the years, he was a believer and practitioner of “old-fashioned” values such as honesty, integrity and courtesy. He was a well-known throughout Maine, was a member of the Maine Boat Builders and Repairers Association and a co-founder of a boat building school in Eastport. He was a member and Past President of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club, the Dunlop Masonic Lodge of Biddeford and recently inducted into the Boat Builders Hall of Fame in Maine. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Henderson Rumery; four children, Stephen Rumery, Susan R. Schultz, Turner Rumery and Martha Moravick; also seven grandchildren; as well a brother, Reed W. Rumery; and a sister, Maryllyn R.Fairfield. Visiting hours are to beheld Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, 365 Main St., Saco. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m Friday at. the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, 365 Main St., Saco. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery. The family suggests that donations may be made in his memory to the Maine Chapter Alzheimer’s Association, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160B, Portland ME 04101
EARLE ROGER RUMERY
