Lionel G. Morin Obituary (1922 - 2008)

Lionel ''Pete'' Gerard Morin, of Winslow, died on Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at Lakewood Manor in Waterville. He was born on the Nov. 25, 1921 in Waterville, son of Joseph Francois Morin and Georgiana Gaboury Morin. In January of 1942, while in his senior year at Cony High School in Augusta, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and served with the First Marine Division, 3rd Battalion in the South Pacific during World War II, achieving the rank of corporal. He fought bravely in the battle for Guadalcanal, the first South Pacific land offensive with the Japanese, and was wounded in the battle for the island of Pelelieu and was awarded the Purple Heart. On Nov. 14, 2001, Cony High School awarded him his long-awaited diploma, recognizing his early departure from high school to serve his country at war. While recovering from his wounds at St. Albans Naval Hospital in Queens, N.Y., Pete met his beloved wife of 61 years, Florence Ann Earl of Brooklyn, N.Y. They were married October 19, 1947 at Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., and went on to raise eight children. He worked as an electrician for the Consolidated Edison Co. in New York City, and in 1952 returned to Maine with his growing family. He first worked in the Wyandotte Mill, and then joined the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier. He retired from the Postal Service in May of 1982, after a total of 37 years in government service. Pete raised his family on Whipple Street in Winslow, and developed many close friendships through his neighborhood and community activities. Pete was a member of the St. John the Baptist Church community of Corpus Christi Parish, serving as one of the first lay extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, as a member of the Parish Council and as chairman of the Church Life Commission. On May 4, 1958 at St. John the Baptist Church in Winslow, he and seven other men met to found St. John the Baptist Federal Credit Union -- now the Winslow Community Federal Credit Union. He was a life member of VFW Post 8835, American Legion Post 5, the Elks, the DAV and a life member of the National Association of Letter Carriers NALC Branch 92, and past president of the former Waterville NALC Branch 515. From 1962 to 1965, he served as president of the Winslow Little League. He served with Central Maine Soccer Officials as a president as well as officiating at Football, Softball, and Lacrosse games. For fifteen years he served as scout master of Boy Scout Troop No. 133 now No. 443. Pete was also an avid reader, and enjoyed taking his family to visit relatives and on outings to favorite lakes, Maine state parks and the coast of Maine. He was always involved the lives of his children and grandchildren, and his presence will be deeply missed. In addition to his parents, Pete was predeceased by his sisters Dolores Brunelle, Marion Bourque, Irene Rancourt, Pearl Major, Albertine Hamlin and by his three brothers: Edward, Joseph, and Arthur; a son in law: John Higgins, a grandson: Lincoln Morin, and two twin great-grandsons: Connor and Sterling. He is survived by his loving wife Florence and his sister Aurore Roy, of Winslow, and his eight children: Rev. Francis of Calais, Thomas and his wife, Kathryn, of Oakland, William and his wife, Lorraine, of Oakland, John and his wife, Cheryl, of Winslow, Richard and his wife, Sally, of Winslow, Robert and his partner, Amie, of Bath, Mary and her husband, Lloyd Quirion, of Winslow, Ann and her husband, Robert Densmore, of Solon; and by his fifteen surviving grandchildren: Stacie and her husband, Nigel McGurk, of Johannesburg, South Africa, Bethany and her husband, Shane Savage, of Oakland, Bradley and his wife, Stacey, of Sanford, Maryann of Cape Cod, Mass., Jacob and his wife, Jackie, of Flanders, N. J, Kathleen of South Portland, Jamie and her husband, Scott Hainer, of Standish, Brittany of Winslow, Caleb and his wife, Falon, of Winslow, Kiley and her husband, Eric Languet, of Fairfield, Tiffany of South Portland, Todd of Lynchburg, Va., Laura and her husband, Victor Turcios, of Killeen, Texas, Cheryl Ann of Killeen, Texas, Lisa of Solon; and his seven great-grandchildren: Zoe and Regan McGurk, Renee and Andrew Morin, Logan and Dylan Languet and Ava Turcios, as well as many nieces, nephews and their families. Visiting hours will be Thursday, Oct. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville, with the American Legion wake service at 7:15 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at St. John the Baptist Church, 24 Monument St., Winslow. Burial will be at the new Maine Veterans Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road in Augusta, at 1 p.m. later that day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Moonlight Bay Wing of Lakewood Manor, 220 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901. The Morin family wishes to express its gratitude for the wonderful care ''Pete'' received at MaineGeneral Thayer Unit, Hospice and especially at Lakewood Manor, where the dedicated and loving service of the members of the staff provided such wonderful support for him and his loved ones. They are truly angels! Their thoughtfulness and compassion is deeply appreciated.