TOPSHAM and BRUNSWICK – Eugene “Gene” Franklin Dow passed away suddenly Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at Hawthorne House, Freeport. Gene was born Nov. 11, 1927, in Houlton, the oldest son of Gladys (Henderson) and Elbert Andrew Dow.
He grew up on the family farm on the Framingham Road in Littleton. As a young student Gene worked as janitor at the one-room McBride School, carrying water and building a fire in the stove before school each day. He spoke fondly of his days as a Boy Scout. He attended boarding school in Houlton, where he made lifelong friends and was elected president of his class, graduating from Ricker Classical Institute in 1945. Gene enlisted in the U.S. Air Force immediately after graduation, serving in World War II. Gene first met his future wife, Serita Lane of Monticello, at age 10 when their fathers were trading potatoes. They attended Ricker Classical Institute together and were married June 22, 1948, at Houlton Methodist Church. They made their first home in Fayetteville, N.C., and after Gene’s honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1949 they returned to Littleton and became the fourth generation to work the family farm bordering the Meduxnekeag River. Gene also worked at Houlton Starch Factory and drove tractor-trailers delivering potatoes to Boston and returning with loads of produce for local grocery stores. He liked working nights, but had to farm during the day, so he became an expert at the art of the afternoon nap. In 1964, after his father’s death, Gene and Serita converted the original McClay/Campbell/Dow family potato farm to Stillmeadows Dairy Farm. They raised five children on their farm, and while Serita taught fifth and sixth grades at Littleton Elementary School, they worked as a team to build an award winning dairy operation. It was a wonderful place for his children’s friends and later for his grandchildren to visit. Gene enjoyed being a member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 78 and led the Stillmeadows bowling league with his sons and son-in-law. Gene sold his dairy herd in 1989, but continued dairy work with his cousin, David Henderson. In 1995 Gene and Serita retired to their son Jeffrey’s home in New Hampshire. After Serita’s death in 1996 Gene worked as a janitor in New Hampshire. He enjoyed driving his grandchildren to activities and fishing Lake Winnipesaukee with his friends from work. Maine drew him home however, and in 1998 he returned to live with his daughter, Stephanie and her family in Topsham. He traveled extensively, spending winters in Arizona with his son, Christopher and family. As a great fan of Westerns and the Old West, trips to Boot Hill, Tombstone and Grand Canyon were highlights. He took part in many adventures, including canoeing the Allagash Wilderness Waterway with his son, Jeffrey, camping extensively at Baxter State Park with his daughter, Stephanie and her family, and helping his granddaughters with their horses. He faithfully attended all his grandchildren’s many sporting events, performances and recitals. The youngest delighted him with the drawings they sent him and their stories and dances. In 2004 Gene suffered a stroke during heart bypass surgery. This led to a series of health challenges, including brain surgery and surgery to place a rod and pin in his hip, leaving his right leg 2 inches shorter than his left. Although forced to use a walker and wheelchair, Gene continued to enthusiastically pursue his many hobbies and activities, including oil painting, jig saw puzzles, latch hooking, crossword puzzles and word searches, reading Westerns, mysteries and history, and watching Westerns and World War II films. Gene moved to Creekside Village, Brunswick, in 2007. He made many wonderful friends there thanks to his jocularity and charisma, and he especially enjoyed attending the community potluck dinners and playing bingo. His beloved cats, Lily, who predeceased him, and Georgia were his constant and devoted companions. His apartment had a wonderful view of the woods and creek, and he liked to keep a watchful eye on the antics of the mallards and squirrels drawn to the wooded brook just beyond his windows, as well as the birds that flocked to his feeders. He was also a regular for breakfast at the Fairground Cafe and he truly believed there was always room for ice cream.
Gene was predeceased by his infant sister, Barbara, in 1931; his brother, Frederick, in 1989; his parents, in 1963 and 2001; his in-laws, Charles and Virginia Lane, in 1969 and 1987; three sisters-in-law, Charlene Walton, in 2009, Jacqueline Smith, in 2011, and Yvonne Graham, in 1998; and his wife, Serita, June 18, 1996. Gene is survived by his children and their families: daughter, Stephanie and her husband, Charles McChord II, of Topsham, son, Michael of Plant City, Fla., son, Jeffrey and his wife, Mei, of Massachusetts, son, Brian and his wife, Beth (Belyea), of Mapleton, and son, Christopher and his wife, Nakisha (Blake), of Riverdale, Md.; and 16 grandchildren, Lane Calloway McChord of Topsham, Lindsey McChord of Stow, Mass., Michael Dow Jr. and his wife, Anna (Rodriguez), of Charlotte, N.C., Stephanie Dow of Valrico, Fla., Jeremiah Dow and his wife, Kenn, of Massachusetts, Nathan Dow and his wife, Andi, of New Hampshire, Amanda Dow of New Hampshire, Haley Dow of Massachusetts, Adam Dow and his wife, Tiara (Fletcher), of Caribou, Andrew Dow and his wife, April (Neher), of Presque Isle, Amber and her husband, Patrick “Ryan” Gwinn, of Bangor, Benjamin Dow and his wife, Laura (Thibodeau), of Presque Isle, Erin Dow of Maryland, Brandon Dow and his fianc‚e, Ashli Woods, of Phoenix, Lynese Dow and Serita Dow of Riverdale, Md. Gene was blessed with nine great-grandchildren, Kaydence, Catherine, Gabriel, Jacob, Adrian, Cameron, Bryson, Wyatt and Ariyah. “Grampy” enjoyed all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren tremendously! Gene is also survived by former daughters-in-law, Sheila Miller Goetz and Martha McDade Dow, who welcomed him into their homes for extended visits throughout the years, and Maritza Williams Dow, who continued to be so thoughtful of him during his final illness; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins; brother-in-law, James Graham of Bay Minette, Ala.; and by his favorite “adopted” daughter, Cynthia Hagerman Milton and her family. The family thanks Heather Baker of Arrowsic, his gerontologist, who helped him reclaim his life and interests after his stroke and brain surgery and remained a dear friend to Gene. Gene received extraordinary medical care from Dr. John Parker of Topsham, as well as Dr. Angela Perron, Mary Lake – family nurse practitioner, Dr. Greg Leach, Dr. Hannah N. and Dr. Linda Gifford, and the wonderful staff of Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick. He was a favorite at Hawthorne House, Freeport, during his final months, and the family wishes to thank the aides and nurses who worked with him for their care and compassion.
A memorial reception and celebration of Gene’s life will be held 2-5 p.m. March 4 at Creekside Village, 50 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick. Memorial services and interment will be held in Littleton in the summer; details will be announced at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Rockin’ T Equine Rescue of Lisbon Falls, www.rocketintequinerescue.com, Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick, www.coastalhumanesociety.org or Houlton Humane Society, www.houltonhumanesociety.org or mailed care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. For online guest book and condolences
www.dunnfuneral.com.