BARRY K. CROUSE
ABBOT - Barry K. Crouse, 69, husband of Dora “Dodie” ( Richards ) Crouse, died Nov. 29th, 2008 at Mayo Regional Hospital with his family by his side. He was born Oct. 10, 1939 in Dexter on his grandfather’s farm, son of Keith W. and Dorothy May (Greene) Crouse. Barry spent many of his teenage years helping his grandfather raise and harvest crops for his dairy cattle.

In 1956 he enlisted in the Army Reserves-946th Transportation Terminal Service where he received valuable experience in heavy equipment operations. He was honorably discharged in 1962. Barry graduated from Dexter High School in 1957 and immediately got a job driving gravel trucks. In the fall of 1957 he went on an apprenticeship program at Fayscott Landis to train as a machine operator. He had “yankee ingenuity” and would carefully think out how he could get something accomplished easily and safely. He fabricated various tools that helped him mechanically when his trucks and cars had to be maintained.

He met his wife at Fayscott and they married in 1962. They moved to Connecticut in 1965 where he worked as a tool-maker for 11 years before moving back to Maine. They opened an auto parts store and the first bottle redemption center in Guilford. He owned his own trucking business for 12 years, 3 of which included operating DMC Paving. Later he worked for Haley Construction but was forced to retire in 2001 due to illness. He was a perfectionist and would spend whatever time necessary to insure the job was done to his standards. He valued honesty in himself and others.

Barry was an avid Ford man and took great pride in his various high performance vehicles. He was especially pleased to be able to own another 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 - 7 Litre that he worked on diligently and found much pleasure in driving. He disassembled and rebuilt many engines over the years.

In addition to his loving wife of 46 years, he is survived by his son Shane and wife Ronda of Sangerville; his daughter Lynn and husband Tyler Blake of Boothbay; brothers, Jere of Chittenango, New York and Fred and his wife Belinda of Sangerville; grandchildren Ryan & Kelli Priest, Jessica & Jacklyn Crouse, & Sydney Blake; his faithful dog Shadow; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren for all of their accomplishments. Barry was also predeceased by a sister in law, Jere’s wife Sharon Crouse.

A memorial service will be held 3:30 PM Thursday, December 4th, at Crosby & Neal, 21 Oak Street, Guilford, where friends may call from 2 PM until the time of services. Family and friends are invited back to Barry’s house on the Pond Road in Abbot following the service. Spring burial will be in Blanchard Cemetery, Abbot.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mayo Regional Hospital/Comfort Care Room, 897 W. Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426; or Cancer Care of Maine, EMMC, 489 State Street, Bangor, Maine 04401. The family wishes to thank their family, friends and staff at Mayo Regional Hospital and EMMC for their wonderful care and concern over the past 8 ½ years.

Those who wish may sign an on-line guest register and leave written tributes at www.CrosbyNeal.com.