Shirley Boynton Spear, 94, found a rising tide on January 11, 2016 to venture beyond life’s bounds.
Shirley is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Rose Cecile of Ross Manor in Bangor and daughters and husbands; Nancy & Jim Leavitt of Newburgh, Joan & Steve Belyea of Hermon, Kathleen & Stephen Kazmierczak of Winterport, Susan & Rick Palmer of Brewer, Mary Jane & Joseph Cote of Brewer; eleven grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
He was born the sixth of seven children to Charles and Ethel (Poor) Spear in the town of East Boothbay on July 9 1921. His siblings included Ellsworth, Donald, Madeline (Collins), Ginny (Stapleford), Connie (Sullivan), all deceased, and Charles of Portland.
Shirley spent his work life repairing aircraft. Honorably serving his country in WWII then the Maine Air National Guards through his adult years to retirement.
While working on the base in Presque Isle, Shirley met a beautiful young woman (Mary Rose Cecile Damien of Old Town) while he was a riveter and she was a “Rosie the Riveter”. Love bloomed and they married in northern Maine on April 29, 1944.
Shirley and Mary Rose purchased a piece of land along the ocean in Brooklin, ME in the early 1960’s and there they spent as much of their time as possible over the next 40 plus years. Shirley returned to the sea with his boat, traps and lines to lobster and fish and be in his favorite place on Earth! Most people who met Shirley have been impressed with his passion and love of the ocean. What really caused people to talk was to know that Shirley was pulling lobster traps by hand until he was 92 and digging clams into his 93rd year.
Shirley made many friends and was loved by those who had spent time in his presence. He was very engaging and enjoyed having fun. He would be the first to say “Everyone ages but it is a choice to get old” and Shirley never got old.
It is with deep appreciation and love that we extend our thanks to “Engle’s Angels” at Ross Manor for being Dad’s extended family and showering him with amazing care, respect and love.
Friends may call from 1-2 PM, Friday, Jan 15, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden, where a Celebration of Life service will be held at 2pm. Gifts in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 383 US Route One, Suite C, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
“Although we smile and make no fuss no one misses you more than us and when old times we often recall that’s when we miss you most of all” Author Unknown
Shirley is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Rose Cecile of Ross Manor in Bangor and daughters and husbands; Nancy & Jim Leavitt of Newburgh, Joan & Steve Belyea of Hermon, Kathleen & Stephen Kazmierczak of Winterport, Susan & Rick Palmer of Brewer, Mary Jane & Joseph Cote of Brewer; eleven grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
He was born the sixth of seven children to Charles and Ethel (Poor) Spear in the town of East Boothbay on July 9 1921. His siblings included Ellsworth, Donald, Madeline (Collins), Ginny (Stapleford), Connie (Sullivan), all deceased, and Charles of Portland.
Shirley spent his work life repairing aircraft. Honorably serving his country in WWII then the Maine Air National Guards through his adult years to retirement.
While working on the base in Presque Isle, Shirley met a beautiful young woman (Mary Rose Cecile Damien of Old Town) while he was a riveter and she was a “Rosie the Riveter”. Love bloomed and they married in northern Maine on April 29, 1944.
Shirley and Mary Rose purchased a piece of land along the ocean in Brooklin, ME in the early 1960’s and there they spent as much of their time as possible over the next 40 plus years. Shirley returned to the sea with his boat, traps and lines to lobster and fish and be in his favorite place on Earth! Most people who met Shirley have been impressed with his passion and love of the ocean. What really caused people to talk was to know that Shirley was pulling lobster traps by hand until he was 92 and digging clams into his 93rd year.
Shirley made many friends and was loved by those who had spent time in his presence. He was very engaging and enjoyed having fun. He would be the first to say “Everyone ages but it is a choice to get old” and Shirley never got old.
It is with deep appreciation and love that we extend our thanks to “Engle’s Angels” at Ross Manor for being Dad’s extended family and showering him with amazing care, respect and love.
Friends may call from 1-2 PM, Friday, Jan 15, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden, where a Celebration of Life service will be held at 2pm. Gifts in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 383 US Route One, Suite C, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
“Although we smile and make no fuss no one misses you more than us and when old times we often recall that’s when we miss you most of all” Author Unknown
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