PATTEN – Spurgeon R. Somers, 80, passed away Dec. 18, 2011, at Houlton Regional Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1931, in Patten, the first child of 11 children, born to Spurgeon and Annie (Campbell) Somers.
Spurgeon enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1950. His military career was spent in Korea, Germany, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Vietnam and Virginia, where he retired as an instructor for Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion of the U.S. Army Engineer School Brigade after 22 years of service. He was a member of Washington Farm United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon, Va. Spurgeon, known as “Spud” in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. He distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action Dec. 15, 1967, while serving as a platoon sergeant of Company A, 8th Engineer Battalion, during a combat mission on the Bong Son Plains, Republic of Vietnam. When his unit became heavily engaged with a numerically superior enemy force, he exposed himself to the hostile fire as he moved to a forward fighting position to control and direct the fire of his platoon. Disregarding his own safety, he then directed the construction of an emergency landing zone for the medical evacuation of the wounded and for the resupply of ammunition. He also held the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. Spurgeon also had the honor of breaking ground for the state of Maine for the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Spurgeon also worked as a manager of Washington Gypsum Supply Co. in Virginia for many years. In 2009 he decided to return to his hometown in Patten, to live in the retirement community close to his son, Rick; mother, brothers and sisters. Spurgeon, nicknamed “Junie” by his family in Maine, was known for his friendliness and toughness. He survived serious combat wounds in Vietnam, colon cancer, strokes and heart disease and has been battling lung cancer. He spent the last two months at Madigan House and Estates, Houlton.
In addition to his mother, Annie, Spurgeon is survived by his daughter, Monica Galloway and her husband, Thomas, and their children, Christina, Bryan, Laura and Elena Galloway of Fairfax Station, Va.; his son, Rick Somers and his wife, Lynn, of East Millinocket and their daughter, Kari Somers and her companion, Matthew Fredericks, of Philadelphia; and his son, Steve Somers, of Linden, Va.;
brothers, Gene Somers and Donna Patterson, Raymond and Glenda Somers and Dicky Somers; sisters, Sadie and Wayne Heath, Vickie and Steve Richardson; his brothers-in-law, Carl Bustard and Virgil Dwyer; sisters-in-law, Teresa Morkin, Gail Thompson and her husband, Fred, Lois Somers and Marilyn Somers, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Ruth (Bustard) Somers, in 2008; father, Spurgeon Somers; and brothers, Bobby Somers and Cecil Somers. The family thanks his many compassionate caregivers, friends and relatives.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, where funeral services will be held with full military honors 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23. Interment will be held in the spring at Patten Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Spurgeon’s name to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, by phone at 1-800-227-2345 or online at www.cancer.org/Involved/index. For an online memory book or to leave condolence, please visit
www.bowersfuneral.com.