E. Curley Obituary (1931 - 2009)

WINTHROP - E. Desmond Curley, 77, passed away peacefully at his home, June 3, 2009, after a courageous battle with ALS and Parkinson's disease. Desmond was born in East Millinocket Oct. 3, 1931, the son of Joseph J. and Camilla W (Trainor) Curley. Desmond graduated from Schenck High School and was a member of the 1949 state championship basketball team. He then enlisted in the Navy and served honorably on the USS Kleinsmith. After the Navy, he attended Husson College and earned a degree in accounting. On April 27, 1957, he married Iris Gipson at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lincoln. Together, they raised their family in Bangor and then Winthrop. Desmond worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 29 years. Desmond was known for his remarkable sense of humor. He enjoyed many things and he had many interests: family gatherings, camping, gardening, boating on Maranacook Lake, golfing in the senior league at Springbrook, cribbage, traveling with family and friends, fishing for trout and salmon, and visiting family camps at Cold Stream Pond in Lincoln and at East Grand Lake in Danforth. He especially enjoyed watching his grandsons play baseball, football, basketball, soccer and hockey, and visiting their schools when they had academic projects and activities that were open to the public. He was a loving, generous and devoted husband and father, and a wonderful, fun Grampie to all of his grandchildren. He belonged to American Legion Post 40, St. Francis Men's Club of St. Michael's Parish and the Knights of Columbus. Desmond is survived by his wife of 52 years, Iris; daughters Jean Youde and her husband, Jon, of Hallowell, Judy Duplessis and her husband, Eugene, of Winthrop, and Cathy Foyt and her husband, Scott, of Winthrop; son Michael Curley, of Winthrop; grandsons Peter and Eric Duplessis, of Winthrop, Robert and Evan Youde, of Hallowell, and Ethan Foyt and his wife, Julie, of Monmouth; granddaughter Tabby Soule and her husband, Adam, of Lyman; siblings Jean Curley, of Bangor, Anna Herbert and her husband, Tom, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., John Curley, of East Millinocket, and Noreen Smedy, of Ellington, Conn.; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, who will sadly miss him. At Desmond's request, there will be no public visiting hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Stanislaus Church in Monmouth, the Knights of Columbus Hall. Burial will be at noon Tuesday at the new Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road in Augusta. Memorial donations may be made to The Maine Parkinson's Association, 5 Bucknam Road, Suite 1A, Falmouth, ME 04105; or the Northern New England Chapter of the ALS Society, 10 Ferry St., Suite 438, Box 314, Concord, NH 03301. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.khrfuneral homes.com Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop.