Mervin Ralph Kilgore Jr.

Brunswick - Mervin Ralph Kilgore, Jr., 79, passed away peacefully after several years of cancer treatment on December 10, 2018 at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick with family by his side.

Mervin (Butch) was born in Portland on February 18, 1939 to Mervin Ralph and Virginia Ellen (Abbott) Kilgore, attended Portland schools and graduated from Portland High in 1957. While in high school he worked at Nissen Baking Co. to buy his first car and keep himself well dressed, paying particular attention to the spit and polish shine of his shoes. During that time, he enlisted in the Reserve Officer Training Corps of the U.S. Navy with his best friend Charlie Collins. This was the beginning of his 31 years of military service.

Naval service included tours of duty aboard USS Johnnie E. Hutchins, USS Shangri-La CVA-38, USS Coral Sea CVA-43, USS Epping Forest LSD4, USS Eldorado AGC-11 and USS Ranger CVA-61 and at Naval Air Stations in Bermuda and Brunswick with Squadrons VP-10, VP-8, and VP-11. His tours took him to many far-flung ports including those of Japan, the Philippines, Spain, Iceland and Bermuda. He retired rank of Master Chief Petty Officer in 1988, having earned many medals and commendations including the Vietnam Service Medal.

Upon leaving military service, he worked for L.L. Bean as a Returns Processor, retiring from there after 8 years. Not one to be idle for long, Mervin joined Neighbors, Inc., a home care company, where for the last twenty years he assisted seniors with odd jobs and transportation to doctor's appointments, often making quick stops for ice cream.

Mervin enjoyed spending time at his cottage on Long Island in Casco Bay, a place where he spent idyllic summers in his youth with his many cousins. He especially loved walking Fowler’s Beach in the early mornings with canine sidekicks Sheila and Dixie.

He was also an avid woodworker, creating birdhouses, clam baskets, sheds, and multiple additions and upgrades to his camps and home in Brunswick. He was quite a tinkerer, able to fix many of his friends’ small engine issues and while stationed in Bermuda, would take his son John to the airport dump and gather enough parts to put together mopeds to sell.

The eldest of four children, Mervin was predeceased by his parents, brothers Peter and Michael Kilgore, brother-in-law Emil H. Berges, nephew Christian Kilgore and his furry companions Tippie and Bandit.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Yoshiko (Nohara) of Brunswick, son John Kilgore and wife Toby of Westbrook, sister Nancy Berges of Long Island ME, several cousins, a niece and several nephews and well-loved companions Sheila and Dixie.

Family and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation and celebration of life at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland on Monday, December 17, 2018 from 4-6PM with a service to immediately follow. Graveside committal services will be held at Brooklawn Memorial Park in Portland at a later date in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mervin to:

The Liberty Ship Memorial at ssjeremiahobrien.org

Midcoast Humane, 30 Range Rd., Brunswick, ME 04011, or your local animal shelter.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Mervin’s online guest book.