Obituaries

Smith, John

Prayers are requested for the family of the Rev. John Smith who passed away on Thursday morning, March 18, 2010. John, a retired elder in the New England Conference, served churches in Essex, Gloucester, Cotuit, Agawam, Northampton/Easthampton, and Dalton, MA as well as Willimantic, CT. A memorial service will be held at Christ UMC, Route 66, 271 Rocky Hill Road, Northampton, MA on Saturday, March 27th at 2 PM. Immediately following the service there will be a celebration of his life, as...

Moore, Jean

Jean Moore, co-director of Wanakee United Methodist Center in Meredith, NH, died early this morning. She had a long, valiant, and difficult struggle with leukemia. Originally from Merrimack, NH, Jean began as co-director of Wanakee with her husband Mike in November of 2005. Previous to her work at Wanakee, Jean was an elementary educator. Jean grew up attending Wanakee as a camper, and later as summer staff and a volunteer throughout the years. She served as chairperson of the Wanakee...

Helms, Shirley

WOOLWICH Shirley Ruth (Colby) Helms died at her family home in Woolwich on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, surrounded by family and her husband of nearly 66 years. She was the daughter of Maurice and Marguerite Colby of Watertown, Mass., and Wiscasset. She graduated in 1941 from Watertown High School, where she captained the field hockey team. She went to Burdett College where she graduated with a business and accounting degree. On March 29, 1944, she married Edgar J. Helms, who was then a...

Dahlstrand, J. Arthur

The Rev. J. Arthur Dahlstrand passed away on December 18 2009. The memorial service has been scheduled for Sat. January 9th at the Christian Life Church, 222 Plain St. Rehoboth, MA (on Rte 118). If you will be able to attend the celebration of Art's life, please contact his daughter, Andrea Leyare, at 401-245-7218 so they can have a count for the luncheon afterwards. Art was the holder of the Golden Cane Award, which recognizes the clergyperson in NEC who is the oldest with the longest number...

Drake, Ernest

The Rev. Ernest (Ernie) Drake died early Sunday morning, Dec. 6. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the First UMC of Portsmouth, NH. All of the churches Ernie served were in New Hampshire: East Candia, North Chester, Raymond, Nashua (Arlington St.), Milford, Littleton, Manchester, Claremont, West Unity, Portsmouth and as District Superintendent of the Southern District (former New Hampshire Conference). He served for 43 years before retiring in...

Rehe, Sandra

Rev. Sandi Rehe, an Elder in the New England Conference and Pastor of Weirs UMC, Weirs, NH died on November 4, 2009 fter a valiant struggle with illness. Sandi served churches in Danvers, Williamstown, and Weymouth, MA. A service to commemorate her life will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2009 at 5 pm, with visitation hours from 3:30-5 pm at First UMC in Gilford, NH. A second service will be held in Andover, NH, with details to be announced later. Condolences may be sent to Rev....

Osborn, Clark

It is with regret we announce the death of retired pastor Clark Osborn. Clark passed away on Friday, September 25. He served many churches in the Northern Maine District including Lincoln, North and South Brooksville, Corinth and Howland. Please keep Clarks family in your prayers. Cards can be sent to: Beverly Osborn 21 Sunset Lane Lincoln, Maine 04457

Porter, Norman

The Rev. Norman Porter, the first full-time Executive Director of the Preachers' Aid Society of New England (Southern New England Annual Conference) passed away in Indiana on Friday, August 14th. Norman served churches in Maine and Massachusetts before going to Preachers' Aid Society. A Memorial Service will be held in the Amanda Reid Memorial Chapel at Wesley Manor in Frankfurt, Indiana on Sunday, August 23 at 1:30 PM. Condolences can be sent to his wife Barbara and daughters Elaine...

Daley, Carlton

The Rev. Carlton T. Daley, a retired elder in the New England Conference, died peacefully this morning, August 4th. Rev. Daley served churches in South Hamilton, Lynn, Yarmouth, and Falmouth, MA as well as in Bolton and Mystic, CT. There will be a community service at Havenwood in Concord, NH next Tuesday, August 11th at 1:30 PM. Please keep all of Carl's family in your prayers.

Chase, Russell

Rev. Russell M. Chase WINTHROP (July 28): Rev. Russell M. Chase, 90, of Winthrop, died Monday, July 27, 2009, in Winthrop. He was born June 26, 1919, in Waterville, son of Charles and Leafy (Mitchell) Chase. He attended school in Waterville and in January of 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the Third Armored Division under Gen. Patton. Rev. Chase met his wife, Elizabeth Estes shortly after returning from the war. They were married Dec. 19, 1948. Russell was employed at...

Sabine, Mary

SOMERSWORTH -- Mary E. Sabine, 84, died April 24, 2009, at her home, surrounded by loving family. She was born June 5, 1924, in Littleton, Maine, to Edwin Burnham and Castine (Tingley) Lilley. She grew up in Smyrna Mills, Maine, and upon marriage, partnered with her late husband in his ministry. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, the Rev. Ralph L. Sabine, on Aug. 9, 2004. Mary and Ralph started their ministry in the Reformed Baptist Church, and continued it in the Church...

Taverner, Gilbert Y

Retired Pastor Gilbert Taverner died on April 22, 2009. Rev. Taverner is survived by his spouse, Elizabeth. He served churches in North and East Vassalboro, Maine, Hyde Park, West Spfld: Mittineague, Brookline: St. Mark's, Milton, Parkway in Massachusetts and Calvary UMC in Middletown, RI. Rev. Taverner was also Dean of Chapel, Chaplain, and Ass't Professor of Religion at Simpson College.

Padham, Elwood (Woody)

Elwood Arno Padham, 82, died April 8, 2009, at Holbrook Health Center in Scarborough where he was lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff there. Elwood, better known as Woody, was born in Solon on April 2, 1927. He was the younger son of Arno L. and Ida M. (Cook) Padham. Following his graduation from Solon High, he enlisted in the Navy and became a part of the Sea Bees who were building airstrips on strategic islands in the South Pacific. After his discharge from the service,...

Bideaux, Charles (Chuck)

Charles [Chuck] Bideaux died on April 4, 2009 in North Carolina. Chuck was the son of The Rev. Rene and Becky Bideaux. Rene was at one time a member of the New England Conference, serving as the Pastor of the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church in Providence, and as the District Superintendent of the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts District. Chuck was very active at Camp Aldersgate. Click here to read the obituary. Submitted by Rev. F. Richard Garland

Snow, M. Lawrence

The Rev. Lawrence Snow, Pastor of Wellfleet UMC in Wellfleet, MA passed away on March 5th. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 13 at the Wellfleet UMC at 11 AM. Larry was a retired member of the New York Annual Conference. Letters of condolences can be sent to his wife, Eleanor Snow, PO Box 443, Brewster, MA 02631 Our prayers are with Eleanor and his family.

Hupp, Courtney Dale

Pastor Courtney Dale Hupp, pastor of the West Lubec church died on November 21, 2008. Condolences may be sent to his family at 311 Wilcox Rd, Trescott Maine, 04652. Pastor Hupp served many churches both Baptist and Methodist including churches in Lisbon, Portland, Isleboro, Grosstown,Five Islands, Jay and many others with West Lubec being his current pastorate. A celebration of his life was held on Sunday, November 23rd at the West Lubec United Methodist Church in West Lubec, Maine. In lieu...

Shirley, Barbara

Barbara Shirley, the spouse of the Rev. Riley P. Shirley Jr., died on Saturday, November 8th. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, November 12th from 4-8PM at the McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 30 Central St. (off Route 123, near State Police Barracks), Norwell Center, MA. The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 13 at 11 AM at the Church Hill UMC, 634 River St., Norwell MA. Condolences can be sent to Rev. Shirley at 22 Spyglass Landing Dr., Marshfield MA 02050. In lieu of...

Nash, James

Reverend Dr. James Nash died at his Burlington home on Wednesday. Jim was a member of the New England Annual Conference and after serving churches in South Goffstown, Grasmere, and South Rindge, NH, spent twenty-one years working with the Massachusetts Council of Churches, first as associate director, then elected in May 1975 as executive director, a post he held until 1988. Please keep his wife Millie, in your thoughts and prayers. Messages of condolences can be sent to Mildred at 89 Sunset...

Soper, Val Jean

Soper, B. Val Jean, on October 26, 2008, in Concord, MA, previously of Onset, MA and Wauneta, NE, in her 81st year. Loving wife of the late Rev. Harry Soper, much loved mother of Richard B. of Lynn, David W. and Elizabeth A. Conroy of Tyngsboro, Walter H. and Elizabeth A. Fagan of S. Natick, John C. and Jamie Murray of Ware and Ruth L. and Artie Crocker of Needham. Beloved grandmother of Liam Wesley Soper of Tyngsboro. Val Jean is also survived by her loving brothers; Caroll Wheeler, MD of...

Snook, Phyllis

Phyllis Snook, the surviving spouse of Rev. John Snook, Jr., died on October 24, 2008. Phyllis was the mother of J. Wesley Snook of Enfield, CT, Jacqueline S. Brooke of Boothbay, ME, Jane E. Crosby of Palmyra, NY & Jo Ellen Fay of Newburyport, MA, the grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of 14. There will be a memorial service and collation at Duvall Chapel at The Deaconess Abundant Life Community, 80 Deaconess Rd, Concord, MA on Saturday, November 8th at 2 PM. Memorial contributions...