WEST TREMONT – Merton E. Rich, 82, died Aug. 26, 2010, at a Bangor hospital. He was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Tremont, the son of Ethel (Gray) Rich and Jasper Rich. He was a loving, devoted son, husband, father, grandfather and uncle. Merton started his own boatyard in 1953, having designed his first boat in 1952 for “Smitty” at Rice’s Wharf, Bernard. Throughout the years he designed and built many boats, including a 26-foot pleasure craft for Clyde Ryder. After he sold the boatyard to his brother, he went back to his first love, lobster fishing, having designed and built his own lobster boat, the Lida May, named after his beloved wife. He fished from Thurston’s Wharf, Bernard, until his demise. Merton was a member of Knights of Pythias Lodge, Bernard. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lida; daughter, Annabelle Rich Lounder and husband, Harry Lounder Jr., of Hancock; sons, William M. Rich and Bruce A. Rich and daughter-in-law, Lynn, of Tremont; brother-in-law, Clayton Holt; grandchildren, Jennifer (Rich) Silveira and husband, Peter, and Jason Rich of Fall River, Mass., Harry Lounder III and wife, Sarah, and Nicholas Lounder of Hancock; great-grandchildren, Joshua, Aiden and Hannah Silveira, Mikayla Rich, and Stephen Kendall Lounder; numerous nieces and nephews, including favorite nieces, Anne Marie Dockery, Nancy Thurlow and Susan Holt. He was predeceased by his mother and father; daughter, Lisa Jean Rich, mother-in-law, Annabelle Hamblen; father-in-law, Winfield P. Murphy; stepfather-in-law, Edwin Hamblen; brothers, Norris “Buster” Gray and James H. Rich; sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Holt; brother-in-law, Winfield P. Murphy Jr.; and beloved granddaughter, Lisa Jean Lounder. He will be sadly missed by all, including his cat, Smokey. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert, with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Buchanan officiating. Interment will be at Head of the Harbor Cemetery, Bass Harbor. Contributions in Merton’s memory may be made to Southwest Harbor Animal Welfare, Inc., P.O. Box 434, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
MERTON E. RICH
