Obituaries

 

John Bryant Sr., 73
Gray- John Bryant Sr., 73, died at his home Wednesday, May 19, 2004.
Born in Portland, Maine July 1, 1930 , son of Harry and Julia Malia Bryant. Educated in Portland Schools, a graduate of Cheverus High School and Northeastern Business College. He served in the U.S. Air Force.

He was a member of the Teamsters Union and was retired from APA transport Corps. He was a member of St. Gregory's Parish. He is survived by his wife Patricia Dunn Bryant, daughters; Julie Bryant of Gray, Kathleen Roubo and her husband David of Waterboro, Cheryl Bryant of Portland, one son John Bryant Jr., his wife Deborah of Gray and ten grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 6 to 9p.m. Friday at Wilson Funeral Home, 24 Shaker Road in Gray. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Gregory's Parish, North Raymond Road in Gray. Committal will be in Gray Village Cemetery. MGSR Robert Lavoie will be the Celebrant.

In lieu of flowers donation may be made to: Cancer Community Center, 778 Main Street, South Portland, Maine 04106 or St. Gregory's Parish. P.O. Box 345, Gray, Maine 04039

Arrangements Under the Care of Wilson Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

A Celebration of the Life of Verna Hobson

Please join family and friends in celebration of Verna's life on May 29 from 2 to 4 pm at the home of Anthony Chhom Chhem and Peng Sary, North Pownal Road, New Gloucester. Please bring food and drink; and stories, poems, photos or other remembrances of Verna to share.

Verna Hobson February 1923--April 2004

Verna Hobson of Squirrel Island, Me., formerly of New Gloucester, Me., died April 13, 2004. She was born Verna Harrison on February 5, 1923. Her father, Francis Burton Harrison of New York, served in the United States Congress for four terms before becoming Governor-General of the Philippine Islands during the administration of Woodrow Wilson. When he retired from politics and moved to Europe, Verna was born, spending her childhood in Scotland, England, France and Switzerland. At age 16 she moved to the United States and entered Swarthmore College. For pleasure, Verna became a pilot of small planes, and co-owned a Piper Cub.

Her first jobs were at the Museum of Modern Art and Time, Inc. where she met journalist and senior editor Wilder Hobson. They married in 1945, lived in Manhattan, and summered at "Hobson's Choice", the Hobson family cottage at Squirrel Island, Maine, where Wilder played slide trombone in the Hennessy Five Star Orchestra. To join him in the band, Verna learned to play the E-flat tuba. Verna's musical career expanded, involving such highlights as playing with her feet (while prone), soloing in front of the Lester Lanin orchestra and jamming with jazz stars Wild Bill Davison and J. C. Higginbotham.

In 1948, Verna and Wilder moved Princeton, N.J. with son Archie and daughter Eliza. In 1954, Verna became secretary to Robert Oppenheimer, formerly director of The Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb, and, following World War II, director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. For 12 years, Verna was a valued aide to Oppenheimer and his family and a key figure in the life of the Institute.

Following the death of her husband in 1964, Verna moved to London, where

she worked for the American Association of University Women, and then became executive secretary to Stirrat Johnson-Marshall, head of the London branch of the architectural firm Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall. She made her home on the Snow Goose, a houseboat that she purchased. It was built on the hull of a World War II Landing craft, and rose and fell on the tidal River Thames in Chelsea. Here Verna entertained international visitors who came away with tales of boisterous, unforgettable parties.

In 1976, Verna returned to America to settle in the town of New Gloucester. Here she became a passionate tree farmer, active member of SWOAM (Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine), and raised vegetables, lambs, pigs and chickens. She reported for, managed and edited the independent weekly New Gloucester News from an office in her home. She was one of the re-founders of the Squirrel Island Squid, a nineteenth-century summer newspaper unpublished for decades. For pleasure, she organized or joined writers' and reading groups.

In 1983 Verna welcomed to her home a foster son, Anthony Chhom Chhem, one of thousands of young Cambodians who fled the ruinous regime of the dictator Pol Pot. Now an American citizen, Anthony is an important addition to the Hobson clan.

In 1988, Verna began a new career, commuting to Portsmouth, N.H. to provide child care for her first grandchild, Wilder Fleming. She exhibited rare talent at the job, and in 1995, moved to Queens, New York, at age 72, to do the same for newborn twin grandchildren Tom and Gwen Hobson.

In the spring of 1998, back in New Gloucester, Verna was a photographic stringer for the Lewiston Sun, attended the Senior College at the University of Southern Maine, studied ancient Greek and worked on her memoirs. Slowing down in 2001, she moved to New Rochelle, N.Y. to live with son Archie's family. Shortly before she died, she was overjoyed to meet Peng Sary, bride of foster son Anthony, newly arrived from Cambodia.

In her final illness, Verna received excellent care at home from hospice workers and died peacefully, surrounded by all of her descendents. She is survived and sorely missed by Archie, Eliza, Gwen, and Tom Hobson, Wilder Fleming, daughter-in-law Susan Lacerte, Anthony Chhom Chhem and Peng Sary. She also leaves brothers Kiko and Geoffrey Harrison, a half-sister Barbara Fyjis-Walker, a half-brother Charles Graham-Watson, many nieces, nephews and loving friends spread far and wide.


Albert Cobb Skilling, 81
Gray-Albert Cobb Skilling, 81, died peacefully surrounded by his family Monday May 24, 2004.

Born in West Gray November 24, 1922, the son of John A. and Catherine Cobb Skilling and graduated from Pennell Insititute Class of 1940. Albert married Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Blake on May 9, 1942 as was married for 54 years until her death January 10, 1996.

Mr. Skilling served during WWII in the Philippines and Japan in the Army Rangers as a Staff Sergeant. After the war he was employed by Thomas Laughlin Co.(Later on known as the Crosby Group Laughlin Plant.) in Portland for 44 years retiring as Superintendent in 1983. While working for Thomas Laughlin Mr. Skilling operated an Electrical Business in Gray Nights and Weekends. Many electricians today started working for
Al and learned the basics from him.

On June 28, 1998 he married Bea Davis, they had many fun times traveling and at family functions. He was well received by her family and her two sons. Terry Davis of Scarborough and Alan Davis of Florida, Bea died
November 29, 2000.

Al was a 34 year member of the Gray Post #86 American Legion, Presumpscott Lodge #127 Masons, Portland Consistory 32nd degree and Kora Temple Shriners. Lake Region Shrine Club and Fraternal Order of Eagles #32., Red Arrow Army Division, and a Member of the First Congregational Church of Gray. Al loved horseracing, going snowmobiling at the Camp Lucky Seven in Eustis where his CB handle was “ Big Al”, Al had many friends in the places he went and the organizations to which he belonged.

In recent years our family were most grateful to his travel companion and former school mate, Edra Wilkinson, they shared many day trips and family functions together.

We would like to thank the Gray Rescue for all the comfort and transportation they gave him and his neighbors for helping us check on him
so he could live at home. Al also appreciated the friendship of Mathew Edson who stopped into check on him often and took care of the lawns, snow blowing, and painting.

Al is predeceased by both wives; Betty and Bea. One brother, Kenneth. Surviving are one son Richard and his wife Kathleen of Gray. Two Granddaughters; Diane M. Spencer of W. Gardiner and Cheryl L. Verrill of
Poland. Five great grandchildren, Marissa and Joseph Caminiti, Caleb and Abram Verrill and Raelyn Spencer. Two brothers; Carlton and Robert, one Sister Yvonne Wilkinson all of Gray. Many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Wilson Funeral Home, 24 Shaker Road, Gray. A funeral will be held 11a.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church of Gray. Pastor Douglas Hedstrom will officiate. Please make memorial donations to Gray Rescue, 125 Shaker Road, Gray 04039.