BRUNSWICK – Merle L. Oak, 97, of Katherine Street, died Monday, April 9, 2007, at Maine General Medical Center, Augusta. He was born July 3, 1909, in Presque Isle, a son of Lyndon James Oak and Melvina St. Thomas Oak of Caribou. He attended Goodwill Hinckley School from 1923 to 1930. He had held the distinction of being the oldest graduate for many years. He married Jessie Lawrence in Solon, Dec. 24, 1939. Mrs. Oak died Jan. 18, 2000. They lived in South Paris, Belfast, East Corinth, Presque Isle and Brunswick and spent many winters at Crosswinds Trailer Park in St. Petersburg, Fla. He worked for Bath Iron Works during World War II; M Sharft Co. of Boston; Main Street Hardware, Rockland; Sears, Presque Isle; and Dakin’s Sporting Goods, Bangor. He owned several businesses including, Oak’s IGA, West Paris, The Hitching Post and the Variety Store in Presque Isle and the Dairy Cup, Belfast. Merle was an avid fly fisherman and hunter. He also enjoyed golf, camping, gardening, metal detecting, football and following the Red Sox. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and sang for many years with the Barbershoppers in Presque Isle. He was predeceased by three brothers, James and Gilford Oak and William Flora; and a sister, Marie Eastman. He is survived by two sons, Parker Oak and his wife, Margaret, of Davenport, Fla., and Merle “Boo” L. Oak Jr., and his wife, Janet, of Standish; a daughter, Elizabeth “Betty” Crouse and her husband, Terry, of Palermo; a brother-in-law, Maurice Eastman of Clearwater, Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Flora of Presque Isle; 10 grandchildren, Debra Hendren and Andy Monson of Wichita, Kansas, Lyndon and Cheryl Oak of Sanford, Kathryn and Dan Oak of Poland, Tangina and Tom England of Westbrook, Phillip and Carey Oak of Stratham, N.H., Kevin and Candy L’Heureux of Westbrook, Duane and Valerie Crouse of Annville, Pa., Roger and Melanie Crouse of South China, Richard and Kim Crouse of Palermo and 23 great-grandchildren. The family thanks the staff of Gray Birch Rehabilitation Center, Augusta, for their loving care. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 13, at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick, with the Rev. Edward Hatch officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Solon, in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to Goodwill Hinckley, P.O. Box 1591, Route 201, Hinckley, ME 04944. A tribute to Mr. Oak’s life may be viewed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com
MERLE L. OAK
