NEW LIMERICK – Harold Alden McNutt “Hal”, “Harry”, 78, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 2, 2005, at Drews Lake in New Limerick with his family, after a long period of declining health. He was born Feb. 4, 1927, in Houlton, the second son of Donald Burleigh and Grace Whittier Robinson McNutt. Harold lived his entire life in the Houlton area until four years ago when he and his wife retired to Rio Rico, Ariz. They had returned to Maine to South Portland in July. Harold left high school at the age of 17 to serve in World War II. He was a quartermaster, third class in the U.S. Navy, assigned to the USS Kretchmer, the USS Norris and the USS Haynsworth. He earned the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal. At the end of the war, he sailed around the world before returning to Houlton in 1946 to marry Phylliss Joyce Hardy, also of Houlton. He subsequently received his diploma from Houlton High School in 2002. Harold spent most of his life as a self-employed truck driver. When he wasn’t on the road, he was always busy building or redesigning something. He was a gifted carpenter, mechanic, engineer, plumber, mason, metalworker and electrician-a true jack-of-all-trades. His favorite pastimes included sailing and boating on Drews Lake or, more recently, riding his four-wheeler through the southern Arizona desert. He also loved reading, cooking pancakes, cheating at Parcheesi and gardening, especially growing tomatoes. A man of few words, he was known for his sense of humor and his heart of gold. Harold was predeceased by his brother, Donald Robinson McNutt; and two grandsons, Theron James McNutt and Ryan Douglas McNutt. One of Harold’s greatest legacies is his family. He is survived by his wife of 59 years of Drews Lake, and eight children, Tana McNutt of Drews Lake, Jim of Dedham, Doug of Drews Lake, Ted of Linneus, Jerry of Windham, Joni McNutt of South Portland, Mark of Tumacacori, Ariz. and Bret of Hampden. He is also survived by five daughters-in-law, Lori, Patty, Michelle, Pam and Kim; 15 grandchildren, Dennis, Jesse, Courtney, Gretel, Angie, Stacey, Kirsten, Jeremy, Karri, Heath, Dan, Josh, Sam, Lucas and Sierra; 11 great-grandchildren, Daniel, Hailee, Ethin, Phoenix, Elyjah, Ella, Sophia, Pano, Cassidy, Emma and Bella. A memorial service will be held for Harold 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Harold’s name to Hospice of Aroostook, care of Dunn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 127, Houlton, ME 04730.
HAROLD A. MCNUTT
