PRESQUE ISLE – Maurice E. DeMerchant 91, died Jan. 22, 2004, at a Presque Isle hospital. He was born Aug. 10, 1912, in Portage, the son of David and Bessie (McGaughey) DeMerchant. He was educated in Buffalo and Portage schools. He was employed at Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut during World War II. Maurice returned home to operate saws in his father’s mill until he built his own mill. He also operated saws in other mills as well. For the next 20 years he was employed at Potato Service in Presque Isle, until his retirement. Surviving him is his wife of almost 70 years, Lillian (Daigle) DeMerchant of Presque Isle; his sons, Clayton “Sonny” DeMerchant and his wife, Melvina, of Portage, and R. Earlin DeMerchant and his wife, Rita, of Presque Isle; his daughters, Dalice Blanchard and her husband, Ted, of Presque Isle, and Lucille London and her husband, Johnny, of Springfield; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a brother, Chester DeMerchant of Presque Isle; two sisters, Celia Beaulier of Portage, and Lois Gay of Cherryfield; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son-in-law, Dana Rattray; and two grandchildren, Travis Walton and Drew Rattray. Relatives and friends may call 7-8 p.m. Monday at the Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Alfred Irving officiating. A spring interment will be in the Fairmount Cemetery in Presque Isle. Those who wish may make memorial contributions in his memory to the Kidney Foundation of Maine, Maine Medical Center, P.O. Box 1134, Portland, ME 04101.
MAURICE E. DEMERCHANT
