GALEN KENNETH COUSINS

ORLAND and SUNSET, DEER ISLE – Galen Kenneth Cousins, 65, of Orland and Sun-set, Deer Isle, went peacefully Dec. 18, 2007, to meet his Lord and Savior, surrounded by family and friends, at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, Blue Hill. He was born Jan. 21, 1942, in Providence, R.I. He was predeceased by his parents, Leon Kenneth and Shirley (Staples) Cousins. He is survived by his wife, Karen Lee (Snowden) Cousins, whom he married Oct. 17, 1967, at Sunset Congregational Church, Deer Isle. Galen grew up in Brooklin and graduated from Brooklin High School, 1960. A year later, Galen enlisted in the Navy and served as an MM3 for three years during the Vietnam Era on the USS Shadwell, making several trips to the Mediterranean during that enlistment. Throughout the past 15 years, he had enjoyed attending reunions with his shipmates at various destinations around the country. The most memorable time was once again going aboard the Shadwell docked near Mobile, Ala. Galen also proudly served as Orland Fire Department chief from 1971 to 1972. Galen was employed in 1967 by St. Regis Paper Mill, Bucksport. His career there lasted 33 years through the changes of ownership to Champion and International Paper Co. He retired in 2002, maintaining friendships with many of his co-workers there. After retiring, he went to “work,” assisting his wife in her art career, attending and helping to set up at craft, art and gallery shows – always being her biggest supporter. He earned his electricians’ helper license in 2005 and worked part-time with friend, Allie Webb of Stonington. His hobbies included gardening, bird-watching, traveling with Karen and family, and always tinkering to repair things around home or for friends. After his retirement, his son, Glenn, was privileged to teach him to fly fish. Many fun, relaxing times were had “up north,” fishing and admiring God’s beauty and animals. He enjoyed discussing town and world issues with his friends, who met weekly for coffee at Bucksport McDonalds. Some of his most treasured moments throughout the past couple of years had been time spent with his grandson, Kyle, reading the book “Farmer Jones” to him, going to the Blue Hill Fair to watch the tractor pull, and seeing him at play on his Radio Flyer tricycle or digging around with his trucks in the sand pile. He attended Emmanuel Baptist Church, Ellsworth. He served and enjoyed helping on many building projects there. His faith sustained him throughout his illness. Romans 8:18 – “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” He is survived by his children, son, Glenn Cousins, and daughter, Andrea and her husband, Joseph Gray and their son, Kyle. He is also survived by his sister, Suzanne and her husband, Robert Noessel, of Brooklin and their sons, Derek and Jeremy; an aunt, Catherine Allen of Brooklin; a cousin, Sharon and her husband, Bruce Goding, of Baileyville; a cousin, Marianne and her husband, James Eaton, of Deer Isle; and cousin, Cheryl Ginn of Birmingham, Ala. He was a beloved son-in-law to the late Sadie Snowden; and is loved and will be missed by his in-laws, Larry and Lanie Snowden of Deer Isle and their daughters, Audrey and Beverly, Norman and Betty Snowden of Glocester, Va., and their children, Pauline and Martin, Roy and Ginny Snowden of Bena, Va., and their children, Sara and Galen, and Michelle Snowden of Bucksport. Galen was diagnosed in January 2007, with cancer. He faced it with dignity and grace. He fought this battle, courageously, to gain time with family and friends who he loved and meant so much to him. Despite harsh bouts of aggressive treatment and its aftermath throughout the past year, he had good days – spending time by the ocean with family and friends, tromping around the clam flats, riding on Larry’s float during the Deer Isle 4th of July parade, an early Thanksgiving celebration, going apple-picking, seeing his grandson turn two years old, and then, celebrating 40 years of marriage with his wife, Karen, on a very beautiful, bright day in October…a day that many close to them won’t soon forget and will serve as inspiration for the days to come. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport, where a funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22.