BUCKSPORT – Ralph Palmer Shute Jr., 85, devoted husband, father of six, proud grand-father and friend to many, passed away peacefully Oct. 31, 2004, surrounded by his family. Ralph was born March 28, 1919, in Stockton Springs, to Ralph P. Shute Sr. and Nellie (Gray) Shute and was raised on “The Cape”. He attended and graduated from Stockton Springs schools where in high school he enjoyed running track and playing baseball. Ralph was coached in baseball his senior year by a gentleman named Paul Glaude. Out of the coaching a friendship was formed and remained strong for the last 67 years. Ralph served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1944. He worked for the railroad as a young man, the Searsport Docks, Armour, Delta Chemicals and Alum Corp. Ralph “retired” in 1984 only to continue to work as a fill-in supervisor at GAC for the last 20 years. He delivered the mail in Orland and worked as a bagboy at Winn Dixie in Florida. Ralph and his wife, Dot, wintered in Florida for the last 15 years where many wonderful friendships were formed. They enjoyed playing cards at the clubhouse and in each other’s homes after potluck. The laughter still resonates from the good times shared. Ralph loved his gardens! He enjoyed canning the veggies that he had so carefully planted and taken care of and meticulously made some of the best pickles around! He also enjoyed watching Bucksport High Softball and Baseball. He knew most of the kids’ names on the team and could tell you who had the best arm and even recite some of the stats of the players. Ralph also was an avid Red Sox fan. He hardly ever missed a game, whether it was on the radio or playing on TV. Though he would be the first to tell you they would never pull it off Ralph and Dot for the last eight years enjoyed spending Christmas in Kentucky with their daughter, Mary, and her family. It was a fun-filled time with many hilarious moments along the way with pictures to prove it. Playing Guestures was a sure thing and you never knew just what card Ralph would pull (well, he didn’t but the other’s did!) And there was that one unforgettable nosedive to the floor, he is still laughing now, we are sure! Ralph was predeceased by his father, Ralph Sr. and mother, Nellie (Gray) Shute; brothers, Fred and Marshall; and aunt, Belva Gray, all of the Cape in Stockton Springs. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 32 years, Dot, and their children; Wayne Sherrard, Toni Terry and husband, Rod, Cindy Bakeman and husband, Paul, Patrice Warren, Mary Silva and husband, Bob, Leslie Wilson and husband, Greg; and his grandchildren, Travis and Aimee Bakeman and son, Reece, Samantha and Brian Ripley and children, Evan and Cole, Katy and Andre Araujo, Lindsay and Jared Hanson, Danny Terry, Jeffery Warren and children, Elijah and Riley, Jared and Molly Warren and children, Hope, Sam, and Nevaeh, Megan and Jessica Silva, Cody and Cassi Wilson; nieces and nephews, Wesley Shute, Margo Shute, Marsha Shute, Laurie Harrison, Perry Shute, Lisa Tripp; sister-in-law, Lee Shute; cousins, Laverne Davis and husband, Jeff, Gary McLaughlin and Jackie McLaughlin. He will be missed by the Florida gang, Linda and Horace, Jack, Mac, Barbara. He will be missed by lifelong friend, Paul Glaude, Harry and Helen Burns, Pete and Cindy Goodwin, John Wilson, and many others too numerous to mention. A special thank you to the nurses at Brewer Rehab for their kindness and care given to Ralph during his stay there; and to Adam from OT, for his genuine care and concern. To the many nurses and doctors at EMMC, thank you so much for the care he received. To Shubhrangshu Biswas, doctor and friend, for your warmth and kindness shown to Ralph throughout his illness and to Vickie for all of your help. And as Ralph said, “We sure had a good time.” We will miss you. Visitation for family and friends will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at the Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St. Bucksport, where a memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, with Pastor Peter Remick officiating. A gathering of conversation and refreshment will follow the service at Brown Hall, Elm Street, Bucksport. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ralph’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Maine Affiliate Inc. P.O. Box 2208 Augusta, ME 04338-2208.