MELVIN JASPER PERKINS

BANGOR – Melvin Jasper Perkins, 73, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, peacefully left us Oct. 4, 2008, with his family by his side. He was born Oct. 9, 1934, in Belfast, a son of Jasper E. Perkins and Madeline E. McArthur. Mel’s great sense of humor, his laugh, his openness and generosity in accepting the people who came into his life, will never leave our hearts and minds, and will forever be treasured and remembered. He was a program specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and served 29 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring with the rank of major. He enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox, woodworking and was an avid reader. He enjoyed traveling, especially visiting the Grand Canyon and San Diego Zoo. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Perkins of Bangor; sons, Dale Perkins and his wife, Kathy, of Old Town and Keith Perkins of Bangor; a daughter, Sharon Perkins of Bangor; stepdaughter, Diana Newman and her husband, Tom, of Blue Hill; stepdaughter, Cathy Ramsdell of Portland; 11 grandchildren, Vicky Perkins, Andrea Perkins, Bret Perkins, Samantha Godwin, Christopher Bernaiche, Christopher Perkins, Lee Sawyer, Juniper Sawyer, Noah Sawyer, Joshua Sawyer and Nicholas Sawyer; a great-grandson, Maxwell Badger; a dear devoted and loving friend, Deborah Murray; and countless friends, who were also friends of Bill W. He was predeceased by his parents; and a grandson, Derek Perkins. A memorial service will be conducted 3 p.m. Friday at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. Private burial services will be conducted later at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor.