Lawrence Mccluskey

ORONO – Lawrence Joseph McCluskey, fondly known as “Lolly” or “Mac”, 92, passed away December 13, 2024. He was born in Bangor, February 5, 1932, to Elizabeth (Dunn) and Joseph McCluskey.

Lawrence attended Bangor Schools and graduated from Bangor High School. He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1954 in the Korean War. He sailed on the USS Purdy, a Destroyer. Lawrence proudly served on the Purdy’s signal gang and as a sharp shooter. During his service, Lawrence sailed around the world twice, once in each direction. Lawrence was a proud veteran who loved his country. He raised and lowered the flag every day at his house in Orono.

After serving his country, Lawrence worked as an assistant Game Warden for a year. He was proud to have caught 7 poachers that year. He then moved on to working for New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. in Bangor as a lineman and then as an installer, until his retirement from AT&T in 1990.

One of his proudest accomplishments was the family camp he built at Schoodic Lake, where he made many memories for his family, friends and camp neighbors (Clayton Haskell, Gary Adams, Rob Lucarelli & Jay Copeland). He was a gifted carpenter and as a hobby, he built countless bird feeders and bat houses that he loved to give to family and friends. He also loved feeding the birds throughout the year around his house.

Lawrence was a true Mainer and had an incredibly strong passion for hunting and fishing. He was self-taught in both and was one of the best the state produced. He loved hunting on his property in Orono.

Lawrence adored his two children, Tim and Theresa, teaching them many life lessons, including the love of the outdoors. He attended both of their athletic events at Orono High School including football, baseball, softball, track, basketball and field hockey. He did the same for his two beloved grandchildren, Connor and Molly, whom he was incredibly proud of.

Lawrence had a witty sense of humor and said so many unforgettable lines that were simply hilarious. He also had an opinion on a vast array of topics and he was never afraid to tell you what he thought. He was the care taker of not only his children and wife, Leona, but he put it on his own shoulders to be that for his entire family. He loved them all. He took great care of them all, including building a home for his elderly parents on Kelley Road in Orono. It was their first ever home they owned.

In addition to his parents, Lawrence was predeceased by his sisters, Kathryn, Mary, Jeannette and Patricia; brothers, John, Francis, Robert and Louis (Dugan) and by his wife of 47 years, Leona (Walker) McCluskey; niece, Jeannette Turner; nephews, Joel McCluskey and Danny Turner and his beloved K-9 best friend; his chocolate lab, Browning.

Lawrence is survived by his two children, Timothy McCluskey and his wife, Christine, of Verona Island, and his daughter, Theresa Murphy and her husband, Patrick, of Windham; daughter-in-law, Ann McCluskey; grandchildren, Connor McCluskey and Molly McCluskey; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Prayers and the Rite of Committal will be prayed at 12:30 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2024, in Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, 449 Ohio Street, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, immediately following the service, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. The family wishes to give their heartfelt thank you to Orono Commons Nursing Home, Orono, Maine Veterans’ Homes, Bangor and to Home Health & Hospice of St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.