MAPLETON – Thomas M. Howe, 64, died peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, after a long battle with small cell lung cancer at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill. Tom was born July 22, 1941, in Wade, the son of Millage and Marjorie (Maynard) Howe. He worked for the Town of Mapleton Highway Deptartment for the past 17 years, retiring Aug. 1, 2005, due to his illness, which he fought so hard to lick, but lost the battle. He is survived by his mother, Marjorie of Washburn; his devoted wife, Charlotte “Robinson” Rafford Howe of Mapleton; two daughters, Beverly Knowlton and her husband, John, of Branford, Conn., Aloma Champagne and her husband, Allan, of Jackman; four grandchildren, John and James of Connecticut, Nicole and Jamie of Jackman; seven stepchildren, Dorothy and Darlene Rafford of Mapleton, his No. 1 daughter, “Jeannie” Rafford of Sheridan, Allan Rafford and his wife, Lisa, of Oklahoma, Deane “Buzzy” Rafford and his wife, Kim, of Garfield Plantation, Walter Rafford, and Kathy Dyer; five step-grandchildren, Christian, Jeremy and Benjamin Rafford of Oklahoma, Daniel and Vanessa Rafford of Garfield, Plantation, two step-great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Anna Trombley and their Dad, Craig, of Mapleton; three brothers, Richard Howe and his wife, Joan, of Wade, Freeman Howe and his wife, Phyllis, of Presque Isle, Donald and his wife, Barb, of Texas; three sisters, Marilyn VanScooter and her husband, Albert, of Washburn, Shirley Smith of Caribou, Alice LaPointe and her husband, Henry, of Riverside, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Gloria Howe of Presque Isle; a special friend, Jerry Bruner of Middleburg, Pa.; a mother-in-law, Dorothy B. Robinson of Garfield Plantation; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Millage in 2002; his brother, Gary, Oct. 2, 2005; his “little Angel” step-granddaughter, Deanna Marie (Rafford) Trombley; a special brother-in-law, Robert D. Smith; and his special uncle, Jack Maynard. At Tom’s request there will be no calling hours. A graveside service will be held 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, 2005, at Fairmount Cemetery, Presque Isle, with pastors Lucy Lovely, and Kenneth Fox officiating. Donations may be made to the American Lung Association of Maine, 122 State St., Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements by Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
THOMAS M. HOWE
