LEE A. DOODY JR.

CARIBOU – Lee A. Doody Jr. died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, surrounded by his loving family at his home. He was born March 9, 1929, at his family home on the Grimes Mill Road, Caribou, to Lee and Myrtle Rideout Doody, the fourth child of seven children. He married Arlene Boutot, April 29, 1950, and together they raised eight children. Lee appreciated the productive results of a hard day’s work, a value he instilled in his family. At a very young age he worked on the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad with his father, as well as various jobs while supporting his young family. He worked for the state of Maine for more than 10 years and after becoming a registered land surveyor, started a business in Caribou from which he retired in 1998. He served on the Land Surveyors Board of Registration and was a charter member of the Maine Society of Land Surveyors. Lee was proud of his community service and throughout the years he was a member and leader of a variety of organizations in Caribou: Sincock Parent Teacher Association, Hilltop Parent Teacher Association, Caribou Council of Parents and Teachers, Caribou Band Parents, Caribou Lions Club – serving as king lion and lioness liaison, past president of SnowDrifters, Inc., director of Northern Region for the Maine Snowmobile Association and past president of Aroostook Valley ATV Club. Proud of being a citizen of Caribou and believing that a person must “give back by getting involved,” Lee served as chairman of Caribou Planning Board, served on Caribou Utilities District, Board of Appeals and Board of Assessors. He was a city councilman from 1994 to 1996, and completed a term as Caribou’s mayor in 1996. He served as a volunteer for several special events and activities in Caribou and as a volunteer at Cary Medical Center. One of Lee’s greatest undertakings was a 39-year career with the Maine Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. He retired from the National Guard as a lieutenant colonel and was the longest standing commander of the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion. Six years later he retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a colonel. During his tenure he was inducted into the Order of Saint Barbara, a military honor society for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps Artillery. Lee’s military service also included five tours of active duty for training at Fort Sill, Okla. San Marcos Air Force Base, Texas; and Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Throughout his life Lee enjoyed the outdoors in every season whether camping with his family in a tent or camper, trekking around the “pucker brush” with a survey crew, riding around The County snowmobile and ATV trails, or enjoying weekly road-trips around Caribou and surrounding towns scouting out wildlife. During Lee’s retirement, he and Arlene especially enjoyed road-trips in their motor home. Alone or with the company of good friends they traveled throughout New England and most states east of the Mississippi. Of greatest importance to Lee was his family. He was especially proud of the accomplishments of his children. He typically made mention of how fortunate he and Arlene were that their children each found success in their own way and were as fulfilled by their own families as he was by his. Organizing family reunions and attending family gatherings brought great pleasure and joy to him. Checking in on his brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and their families was the focus of his life. He will be sadly missed by his loving and devoted wife, Arlene of Caribou; his two sons and their families, Steven and Carole and their sons, Matthew of Caribou and Aaron of Canton, N.Y.; and Jeffrey and Carolyn Schuster of Yarmouth and their daughters and son-in-law, Laura and Johannes of South Berwick and Allison of Washington, D.C.; five daughters and their families, Deborah and Donald Sirois of Caribou and their son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Shauna and their children, Tanner and Taiva of Mesa, Ariz.; Susan Doody and Robert Stedt of New Sweden and their children and granddaughter, Jason, Sherry and Logan Stedt of Cross Lake, Kelly Stedt and Amber Nadeau of South Portland and Lea Stedt of Baltimore; Roxanne and George Dolan and their sons, Porter and Ian of East Greenwich, R.I.; Shellie Doody and Danny Corriveau and their children, Demarre of Caribou and Chandler and Shelby of Hermon; and Kris Doody and David Winslow of Caribou and Augusta; two sisters and their families, Evelyn Fournier of Caribou and Mable and Floyd Quist of Caribou; and two brothers and their families, Donald and Norma Doody of Westbrook and Delmar and Maria Doody of Newport. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Lee frequently and fondly remembered in stories dear friends and National Guard and Reserve comrades who contributed to and complimented his life in many ways as well as family members who completed the circle of life. He often remarked that it was a privilege throughout the years to be associated with so many people both at home and away who willingly shared their lives with him. They made him rich in many ways and he was deeply thankful for what they gave to him. He was predeceased by a son, Wilbur Doody of Avon, N.Y., in 1990; his mother, his father; his stepmother, Edna Doody; and two brothers, Vinal Doody and Malcolm Doody of Caribou. People are invited to honor and remember Lee at a celebration of life 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou. Family will greet people 11 a.m. until the start of the celebration. Interment will be afterward at Lyndon Cemetery, Presque Isle Road, Caribou. A reception will be held 3-5 p.m. at Caribou Motor Inn. Friends and family who wish to remember Lee may contribute in his memory to Jefferson Cary Foundation, Oncology Service, P.O. Box 89, Caribou, ME 04736 or Caribou Children’s Discovery Museum, P.O. Box 487, Caribou, ME 04736.