John L. Brett Jr.

September 15, 1926 – June 27, 2015

Portland – John Louis Brett Jr. passed away on June 27, 2015 after a long struggle with Dementia. He was born in Portland, ME on September 15, 1926 to the late John L. Sr. and Grace A. (Bruns) Brett also of Portland. John was the second of 12 children, who were very close, and resided at 18 Sheridan St on Munjoy Hill, Portland until 1949. In October 1944, John was drafted into the U.S. Army during his senior year of high school. When he shipped out for basic training he promised his mother that he would come back and return to graduate from Portland High School. After completion of basic training he was assigned to an artillery training unit at Fort Bragg, N.C. for the duration of World War II, and was honorably discharged in July 1946. He returned home and reenrolled into Portland High School September 1946 to finish his senior year and graduated, as promised, with the Class of 1947.

While attending his junior year at Portland High School he met Virginia (Ginny) M. Driskell at a school dance in 1943. Their love for each other did not waiver during his absence serving his country and together they graduated from Portland High School in 1947. They were married at Immanuel Baptist Church in Portland on January 8, 1949. For over 60 years he and Ginny resided at 99 Whitney Avenue in Portland until her passing on January 8, 2015, their 66th wedding anniversary. The past few months he resided at Fallbrook Woods, Portland.

John started working at a young age and held jobs at Portland Press Herald, the Portland YMCA and for over 35 years was a Milkman for H.P. Hood until his retirement in 1989. He was a proud member of the Hood Quarter Century Club and looked forward to their annual banquet each September. Upon his retirement in 1989 from H.P. Hood, he and Ginny volunteered as ushers at Merrill Auditorium, the Salvation Army Camp at Camp Sebago, and the local food shelter. He was active in the community holding positions as President of the West School PTA and a member of the church council at Stroudwater Baptist Church to name a few. More recently, he and Ginny were members of Central Square Baptist Church. For many years he was Santa’s helper at the Maine Mall, Windham Correctional Center and to the delight of many neighborhood children.

He was a member of the American Legion Andrews Post #17 and in March 2015 was awarded a certificate in honor of his 70 years of continuous service. He played the bugle for the Andrews Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps and chaperoned many bus trips when his children later participated in the Dirigo Jets Drum and Bugle Corps and Deering High Marching Band. He enjoyed candlepin bowling, square dancing and for many years he spent summers as a seasonal camper at Four Seasons Campground on Long Lake in Naples, ME with his wife and family. Although a lifelong New York Yankees fan, he was a season ticket holder for many years cheering on his beloved Portland Sea Dogs.

Besides his parents he was preceded by his wife Virginia M. (Driskell) Brett, brothers Wesley, Ronald, and Philip Brett, sisters Mildred Brett, Shirley (Brett) Turenne, Leona-May Brett, and Pauline Brett, his daughter Linda L. (Brett) Moore and son-in-law Richard W. Moore Sr. He is survived by his sisters Charlotte (Brett) Strmecki of Chicago, IL, and Phyllis (Brett) Biggar of Stone Mountain, GA, and her husband Robert, his brothers Ralph Brett and his wife Mary of Portland, and Robert Brett and his wife Cheryl of Anthem, AZ, two sons, Lyndon (Lyn) Brett of Portland, ME and Laurence (Larry) Brett Sr. of Oklahoma City, OK and his wife Jamia, and daughter Lorena (Brett) Delcourt and her husband John of Windham, ME. He leaves 7 grandchildren, Wayne Moore of Buxton ME, Michelle Moore-Ledger of South Portland ME, Laurence Brett Jr. and his wife Ann of Rogers, AR, Matthew Brett and his wife Heather of Westbrook, ME, Andrea (Brett) Terrell of Enid, OK, Michael Brett and his wife Annie of Portland, OR, and Racheal Delcourt of Limington, ME. He also leaves 8 great grandchildren, Tabatha Moore, Caleb Moore, Caitlin Moore, Autumn Terrell, Aiden Terrell, Caleigh Moore, Isabella Brett and Taylor Delcourt. He also considered the Chadbourne and Masters families as an extension of his own family traveling and vacationing together for many years.

The family would like to thank the following for their compassionate care over the last few years: John, Chrissie and the Staff at In Home Senior Services, Barron Center Adult Day Program, ITN and Fallbrook Woods.

Family and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Monday, July 6, 2015 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Jones, Rich, and Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Edward Delong officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Brooklawn Memorial Park, 2002 Congress Street, Portland. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Westbrook Warren Congregational Church Pilgrim Lodge Fund, 810 Main St. Westbrook, ME 04092, to the Barron Center Adult Day Program, 1145 Brighton Ave, Portland, ME 04102 or a charity of your choice.