RUSSELL E. MURPHY

SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. – Russell E. Murphy died Aug. 29, 2005, at South Bay Hos-pital in Sun City Center, Fla. He was born July 30, 1924, in Van Buren, the son of Fred J. and Homerine Keegan Murphy. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a medic in the Pacific during World War II. Russell returned to Van Buren where he married Priscilla Doucette and had two daughters, Colleen and Sharon. He and Priscilla were married for 31 years before she died of cancer in 1978. Russell graduated from the New England School of Mortuary Sciences in Boston. He was employed as a funeral director in Massachusetts and Maine. He was co-owner of the Davis Funeral Homes in Rockland and Thomaston. He retired to Florida where he met Hilda “Jo” Sceusa. They married Oct. 21, 2000, and made their home at Kingspoint in Sun City Center. Russell had many interests and was always eager to try new things. Past affiliations include the Knights of Columbus, Elks Club, WISDUM, Belfast Curling Club and the American Legion. He volunteered at the Rockland Animal Shelter and served as a docent at the Farnsworth Museum. Russell was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Homerine Murphy; his first wife, Priscilla; and his daughter, Sharon, who died in infancy. He is survived by his wife, Jo Sceusa, of Sun City Center, Fla.; daughter, Colleen Freise and her husband, Dale, of Augusta; grandson, Ryan Freise and his wife, Lisa; and daughter, MacKenzie, of Augusta; granddaughter, Megan Freise, of Portland; two sisters, Kay LeBrun, of Portland, and Frances Morrow and her husband, Armand, of Hamlin; and a large Murphy and Doucette extended family. He is also survived by a stepson, Michael Sceusa and his family of Amherst, N.Y.; and a stepdaughter, Jackie Irovando and her family of Valrico, Fla. Russell was a kind, gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor. He was well-loved and will be deeply missed by his family. At his request there will be no public funeral service. A private memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Augusta, Sept. 17, 2005. Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., Suite 1100, New York, N.Y. 10016 or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053; or any other charity in his name.