GREENACRES, Fla. and SPRUCE HEAD – Erland Paul “Erkie” Fish, 73, died Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Hospice of Palm Beach County after an extended illness. Born Oct. 15, 1930, in Appleton, he was the son of Arthur L. and Glenys Drake Fish. He was raised in Rockland by his stepmother, Christina Bald Fish and attended local schools. For 13 years, Erkie worked at Veto’s Mobil Oil in Rockland. For the next seven years he owned and operated “Erkies” Shell Station in Rockport. On Nov. 20, 1965, he married Lillian Tuttle in Camden. After moving to Palm Beach County, Fla., Erkie worked more than seven years at Roger Dean Chevrolet and Palm Beach Dodge. In 1972, he returned to mid-coast Maine, and with his wife and business partners, built the Navigator Motor Inn in Rockland, which they owned and operated until 1974. At that time they established Bumble Bee Construction, a paving business they owned and operated until selling it in 1994. Erkie enjoyed continuing to work with that business during the summer months, even after selling that business. Erkie was known as a loving husband and father to his children and grandchildren. Everyone also knew Erkie as a gregarious friend to anyone he met. He was a member of Union Congregational Church, West Palm Beach, Fla., a life member of Rockland Lodge of Elks No. 1008, a 40-year member of St. Paul Lodge of Masons, a member of South Thomaston Lions Club, Mid-Coast Shrine Club, and Harmonia Lodge of Masons in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was predeceased by a son, Jack Fish, in 1969. Erkie is survived by his wife, Lillian; five daughters; four sisters; seven brothers; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Services in Maine will be announced in the spring. Friends and family in Maine are invited to direct donations in memory of Erland “Erkie” Fish to Kno-Wal-Lin Family Hospice, care of Northeast Health, 22 White St., Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.
ERLAND PAUL ‘ERKIE’ FISH
