PRESQUE ISLE AND PORTAGE LAKE – Edward A. Footer Jr. passed away peacefully Dec. 20, 2012, in Tequesta, Fla. Ed was born Sept. 21, 1927, in Milton, Mass., to Edward A. Sr. and Annie Beatrice (MacLellan).
Ed was raised in Bath. He served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Philippines during World War II. Ed was honorably discharged in 1945. Ed attended the University of Maine and worked for 38 years as project engineer for New England Telephone and Telegraph. Ed married Wilma A. Campbell of Presque Isle, in 1954. Ed was a member of Presque Isle Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club. Ed served on SAD 1 Board of Directors for many years, 10 of them as chairman. He was a lector at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. After Ed retired in 1984, he and Willie wintered in Hobe Sound, Fla. Summers were spent in Portage Lake, where they were blessed with lifelong friends, with whom they traveled, cooked, golfed and played bridge.
They were blessed with seven children, 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren: Katie and Bob Johnson of Steep Falls, and their children Jenny and Torey McPherson, Chris, Ali and Ross Johnson; Carolyn and Billy Doyen III of Castle Hill, and their children, Martha and Barry Buck, and Melissa and Jeramy Buck; Susan and Ross Doyen of Mapleton, and their children, Shawn and Christi Doyen, Liza and Mark Hutton, Elizabeth and Mickey Hall, and Kristi and Joe Greaves; Billy and Dayle Footer of Gorham, and their children, Ed, Joe and Ellen Footer; John and Janice Footer of Mars Hill, and their children, Jack and Nick Footer; Ann and Brent Bridges of Oviedo, Fla., and their children, Adam and Will Bridges, and Marybeth and Ryan Burby; and Deborah “Dee Dee” Footer of Jupiter, Fla., and Ele; extended family: William and Diane Doyen Stokes of Augusta, and their children, Alicia and Liam Stokes. In addition to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Ed is survived by brothers, Robert and Barbara Footer of Calais, and James and Dorothy Footer of Cape Cod, Mass.; many nieces and nephews. He will be remembered by all of his cohorts with a smile! He was predeceased by his wife, Willie; parents; brother, John; and sister, Mary Jane Turcotte. A special thanks to Dee-Dee and Ele for taking such great care of Dad.
His life will be celebrated in summer 2013 in Portage Lake. Donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074; or Hospice Foundation of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.
Edward A. Footer Jr.
