Obituaries from Dover Community News, Friday, November 16, 2001 Copyright retained by the newspaper. Included in the USGenWeb Archives with permission. http://seacoastonline.com Maurice R. Benoit WWII vet, gardener, fisherman Maurice R. Benoit, 86, of Berwick Road, South Berwick, ME, died November 8, 2001, at the York Hospital following a period of failing health. He was born October 5, 1915 in Berwick, ME the son of Leon and Philomen (Langlois) Benoit and was a lifelong resident. A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Forces, Maurice proudly served his country during World War II. He was a member of the First Parish Federated Church, where he sang in the choir. Maurice was the service manager at Farmer Chevrolet in Rochester and Leighton Chevrolet in York, ME. Prior to taking ill, he was the manager at the South Berwick Getty Station. Maurice loved his family, bird watching, gardening, and fishing. For a time, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Member of the family include his son, Timothy Benoit of South Berwick, ME; two daughters, Dr. Salley M. Sawyer of Aberdeen, SD and Gretchen Evans of South Berwick, ME; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held November 11, at the First Parish Federated Church in South Berwick, with The Reverend Donna Muise, pastor officiating. The family observed private burial services in Woodlawn Cemetery in South Berwick. Memorial donations are suggested to First Parish Federated Church, South Berwick Rescue Squad, or South Berwick Historical Society. Arrangements were under the direction of the McIntire-McCooey Funeral Home, 301 Main St., South Berwick, ME. Wesley G. Grass Vet, Legionnaire, sportsman Wesley G. Grass, 77, of 313 Sherwood Glen, died Wednesday November 7, 2001, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital after a long illness. Born in Gonic on September 26, 1924 the son of Enoch Edna (Hall) Grass, he had lived in the Gonic, Dover, Somersworth, and North Berwick, ME area all of his lifetime. He was a US Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, having served with the 8th Air Force 401st Bomb Group. He was a former member of the Dover Post #8 American Legion. Prior to his retirement, he was a 30-year employee of the Hussey Manufacturing Co. of North Berwick, ME, where he was a foreman and welder. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He is survived by his wife Shirley (Downs) Grass of Somersworth; four children, Louise Horne and Ethel Mailhot of Edgewater, FL, Wesley A. Grass of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Crystal Grass Forest of Somersworth; five stepchildren, Sharon Karaffa of Somersworth, Roger Grass of Lumberton, SC, Gary Grass of Castlebury, FL, and Brenda Bumford and Kenneth Grass of Sanbornville; two brothers, Roland Grass of Sanbornville and Enoch Grass of Alaska; a sister Barbara Staples of Rochester; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. His first wife Helen (Brown) Grass, who died in 1977; two brothers, Harry Grass and Ernald Grass; and three sisters Grace Corliss, Evelyn Staples, and Florence Sawyer predeceased him. Funeral services were November 10 from the Tasker Funeral Home, with The Reverend Anne Robertson, pastor of St. John United Methodist Church officiating. Burial followed in Hillside Cemetery in North Berwick, ME. For more information or to sign an online guest book please go to www.taskerfh.com. Robert Calef Taxi owner Robert R. Calef, 100, formerly of Port Richey, FL, died Tuesday, November 6, 2001 at Dover Rehabilitation and Living Center after a period of failing health. He was born March 30, 1901 in Barrington the son of Austin L. and Clellie (Chesley) Calef. He was a graduate of Berlin High School and attended the University of New Hampshire. Self-employed, he was the owner and operator of Calef’s Taxi in the Haverhill and Amesbury, MA and Hampton areas. He was a member of the Barrington Congregational Church. He enjoyed playing baseball behind Calef’s store back in the early 1900s. He also enjoyed swimming in Scruton Pond at the Old Town Farm Bridge. Survivors include a son, David Calef of California; a brother, Harlan Calef of Barrington; and several grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Graveside services were held Thursday, November 15 in Pine Grove Cemetery, Barrington, with The Reverend James Fraise officiating. Those who wish may make donations in his name to the Barrington Youth Association, PO Box 407, Barrington, NH 03825. George J. Messier WWII vet, skier, KOC George J. Messier, 83, of 25 Buttonwood Rd., South Berwick, ME, died Monday, November 5, 2001 at York Hospital following a long illness. Born October 9, 1918 in North Hampton, MA, he was the son of George F. and Margaret (Hourihan) Messier. He graduated from St. Michael’s High School of North Hampton, MA in 1936 and from North Hampton Commercial College in 1938. Mr. Messier served in the US Army in England and the United States from May 1942 through December 1945. He was employed as a civilian by the US Army Corps of Engineers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts from 1939 to 1974. He worked on the Franklin Falls Flood Control Dam, which was one of the first dams constructed after the disastrous floods of 1938. He was an avid downhill skier from 1940 until 1996 and was a member of the 70-Plus Ski Club. He moved to South Berwick in 1989 from Arlington, MA. He was a member of St. Michael’s Church. He was also a member of Great Works Council #10259 Knights of Columbus. Family members include two daughters, Valerie J. Quayle of Merrimack and Susan K. Hall of North Berwick, ME; two grandsons, Mark E. Healey of North Berwick and Keith E. Healey of Nashua; two sisters, Catherine M. Hopkins of Billerica, MA and Mary T. Lynch of Berlin, MD; one brother, Daniel F. Messier of Catonsville, MD; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Violet L. (Egner) Messier and a son, Steven M. Egner. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated November 9 at St. Michael’s Church with The Reverend H.J. Cameron, pastor, as celebrant. Burial followed in Woodlawn Cemetery in South Berwick, ME. Those desiring may make memorial donations to the National Kidney Foundation. For more information or to sign an online guest book, please go to www.mcintiremccooey.com. Renie Gallant Shipyard retiree, school employee Renie J. Gallant, 85, formerly a longtime resident of 20 Dawson St., South Berwick, ME, died Monday, November 5, 2001 at Sunbridge Care and Rehabilitation in Rochester. Born in Eagle Lake, ME on October 10, 1916, he was a son of the late Vincent and Margaret (Auchon) Gallant. Mr. Gallant was a laborer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for 23 years, retiring in 1968, and was a janitor at Central School for eight years. He was a longtime South Berwick, ME, resident and had lived for the past several years in Milton. He was a communicant of St. Michael’s Church. Family members include one daughter; Margaret A. Verville of Milton; one son Richard A. Gallant of South Berwick, ME; three stepchildren, Debra Croft and John Croft of Bangor, ME, and Vicky Croft of Millinocket, ME; one brother Norbett Gallant of Eagle Lake, ME; one sister Bertha Blanchette of Eagle Lake, ME; three grandchildren, Lisa M. Williams and Jennifer A. Verville of Milton, and Michelle M. Gallant of South Berwick, ME; three great-grandchildren, Benjamin F. Williams, Matthew Kitner, and Kimberly Kitner. He was predeceased by his wife, Geneva (Albert) Gallant, brothers, and sisters. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated November 8, at St. Michael’s Church in South Berwick, with The Reverend H.J. Cameron, pastor, as celebrant. Burial followed in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Rollinsford. Those desiring may make memorial donations to St. Michael’s Church, 29 Young St., South Berwick, ME 03908. For more information or to sign an online guest book, please go to www.mcintiremccooey.com.