PRESQUE ISLE – Chester E. DeMerchant, 92, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Maine Veterans Home, Caribou. He was born Nov. 25, 1918, at Portage Lake, son of David and Bessie (McGaughy) DeMerchant.
Chester retired as chief warrant officer two after 20 years of service in the U.S. Army serving during World War II and the Korean War. He and his wife, Rose, owned and operated DeMerchant’s Trailer Park and Riverview Mobile Home Park, Presque Isle. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Germany and a member of State Street Baptist Church.
He is survived by a son, David DeMerchant and his wife, Sharon, of Presque Isle; a daughter, Darlene Murphy of Presque Isle; two sisters, Lois “Pee Wee” Gay of Cherryfield and Celia Beaulier of Portage; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Rose (MacPherson) DeMerchant, in 2009; a son, Gary DeMerchant, in 1978; a daughter, Karen Bartlett, in 1975; and a brother, Maurice DeMerchant, in 2004.
There will be no calling hours. A graveside service with military honors will be in the spring at Fairmount Cemetery. Those who wish may donate in his memory to Maine Veterans Home, 163 Van Buren Road, Suite 2, Caribou, ME 04736. Condolences may be expressed at davidd@maine.rr.com and online at
www.duncan-graves.com.