ELLIS E. SURVANT

ELLIS E. SURVANT PRESQUE ISLE – Ellis E. Survant, 86, of 91 Barton St., Presque Isle, died peacefully Saturday, May 8, 2004, with his adoring family gathered at his side. Bud, as he had been known since childhood, was born in the small town of Sargo in rural Kentucky on Oct. 24, 1917, to Victor and Ella (Mulligan) Survant, the second of three sons. He grew up in Kentucky, and West Virginia, citing Owensboro, Ky., as his hometown. Bud attended the University of Kentucky to study mechanical engineering, the first in his family to pursue a college degree. A member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and the Army Cadet Corp at UK, he served as an officer in World War II in the Army Air Corp. He continued in military service after the war as Unit Commander for the Reserve Unit stationed at the Presque Isle Air Force Base. He attained the rank of Lt. Col. While stationed there he met Alice Hayes of Presque Isle, and they were married there in 1942. He is survived by his loving wife; and their two daughters, Constance McDonald of Augusta, and Jane Bonville of Cumberland; four grandchildren, Alison McDonald of Pasadena, Calif., Erin Frederick of Windham, William McDonald of Augusta, and Michael Bonville of Portland, Ore.; and three great-grandchildren; his brother, William Survant of Lexington, Ky.; numerous nephews and nieces; and his son-in-law and good friend, Steven Bonville of Cumberland. His brother, J.W, predeceased him. Adopting Presque Isle as his new hometown, Bud began his business career as the first Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. He then became a life insurance agent for Aetna List and Casualty, a relationship lasting 38 years. Bud specialized in providing medical insurance coverage to Aroostook County businesses, an integral active participant in the early days of group benefits. He received many awards from both The Aetna and The State of Maine Life Underwriters Association, including its most significant recognition, the J. Putnam Stevens Award, for service to the industry. Bud was tapped by two state governors to serve as a member of the State of Maine Insurance Advisory Board. An active community leader, Bud spent years as a board member for the A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital, The United Way, and the Chamber of Commerce. He was elected President of each of these organizations. Bud was also a Rotarian in Presque Isle, through his entire business career and into retirement. As always, he took a leadership position, serving as president and as an active member of Rotary projects particularly the annual auction to benefit the A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital. He was recognized for his efforts and for his commitment to the ideal of rotary, “Service above Self,” by being awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship, an acknowledgement reserved for a distinguished few. Bud’s passion was the game of golf, and he became heavily involved in establishing a course in Presque Isle. He served as a long time board member, president, and was continuously a key fund raiser for the Presque Isle Country Club, where he nurtured and entertained many, many friends through the vagaries of their game. Bud was also active in the Upper St. John Valley Seniors Golf Association for several years. He was accomplished enough at his sport to win Senior and Super Senior Championships at both PICC and the USJV Seniors. Bud and Alice have been long time active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where they were married. Over the years, he served on many vestries and was again a significant fund raiser for the church that was such a big and important part of his life. He truly loved the people of St. John’s. Bud Survant was indeed a community leader, an effective businessman, wonderful mentor and above all, a kind and gentle man deeply cherished by his family and friends. Calling hours will be 7-9 p.m. Monday, May 10, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Second Street, Presque Isle. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, at the church with the Rev. Robert Smith officiating. Interment will be in Fairmount Cemetery Presque Isle. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Johns Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 8, Presque Isle, ME 04769 or in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.