ORLAND – Colon D. MacDonald spent his final day with family at his side, before entering into eternity with the Lord July 31, 2011. Colon was born June 5, 1921, in Gouldsboro, the son of Joseph and Adelle (Swazey) MacDonald.
He graduated in 1940 from Bucksport High School. He was a comedian in the late 1930s in numerous western shows and on the radio. He married Hazel Rich in 1941. He was a welding instructor for New England Ship Building, Portland, during the early 1940s, and was a state certified welder for St. Regis Paper Co. for 24 years. Colon was a well-known square dance caller in Maine and Florida. He and his wife owned and operated the Promenade Inn campground, square dance hall and store. In 1969 they moved to Florida, where he worked for Morgan Yacht Welding on Disney World boats. He also welded on the Heritage that raced for the American Cup. He and his wife taught square dancing for the city of St. Petersburg, Fla., for 15 years. He called square dances for many clubs in Maine and Florida. He and his wife escorted groups of square dancers on numerous cruise ships throughout the Caribbean and the Hawaiian islands. Colon and Hazel were chosen Entertainers of the Week by the St. Petersburg (Fla.) International Folk Fair Society. After retirement from Florida, he moved back to Orland, where he has given of his talent of storytelling freely to senior citizen groups, nursing homes, Rod & Gun clubs, Bucksport senior citizens and private parties. Colon enjoyed life to the fullest – hunting, fishing, trapping, playing baseball and softball and telling stories. He was very proud of his book “Uncle Elmer’s Maine Humor,” of short stories and poems, most were true happenings of his boyhood days growing up in Gouldsboro, published in 2004. Colon loved hunting and fishing with his friends at Roach Pond, ice fishing with his sons and relatives on many Maine lakes, and troll fishing for trout, salmon and togue. Colon’s terrific sense of humor, his spirit and generosity will be missed by all those he touched during his long and wonderful life.
He is survived by two daughters, Carol Lally and husband, Richard, of Bucksport and Judith Miller and husband, Peter, of Bucksport; two sons, Robert MacDonald and wife, Vicky, of Orland and Gary MacDonald and wife, Donna, Silver Springs, Fla.; son-in-law, Jack MacLeod of Brewer; 11 grandchildren, Scott Lally and Amanda of Bucksport, Dennis Lally and wife, Stacey, of Glenburn, Jana Hanscom and husband, Kevin, of Orrington, Kelly Frye and husband, Troy, of Orland, Kevin MacDonald and wife, Margie, of Orland, Christopher MacLeod and wife, Suzanne, of Bucksport, Kirsten Beckwith of Levant, Glenn Terry of Bucksport, Dana Terry and wife, Nickea, of Orrington, Joe MacDonald of St. Pete, Fla., and Melanie Hurd and husband, Shane, of Bucksport; many loving great-grandchildren; one sister, Ida Burgess of Penobscot; nieces, nephews, cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Hazel Rich MacDonald, in 2007; daughter, Linda MacLeod, in 1988; brother, Delmar MacDonald; and sister, Ruby Pierce.
At his request, there will be no viewing or funeral. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at Riverview Cemetery, Route 15, Bucksport, with Pastor Peter Remick officiating. A social gathering will be held after the service at the Edward K. Arey Community Center, next the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colon’s memory to East Bucksport Methodist Church, P.O. Box 162, Bucksport, ME 04416 or Evangelical Baptist Church, P.O. Box 325, Bucksport, ME 04416. Arrangements are by Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.