AUBURN — Richard Emerson Lowell, 98, of Rangeley, died early Sunday, Nov. 26, with loved ones by his side and in his heart at the Hospice House. He was born Feb. 2, 1919, in Sandy River Plantation, a son of Claude and Lena (Oakes) Lowell. Shortly afterward, he was raised by his mother at heart, Grace Dunham Lowell, and Claude. He was educated in the Rangeley school system in the one-room schoolhouse in Oquossoc for his earlier years.

On March 4, 1939, he married Ethelin Barrett, in a double-ring ceremony with her brother, Wayland and his bride, Bettina, in Magalloway. His one love for 78 years was his wife, Ethelin. They made their first home in Rangeley. They were blessed with six children, Edwin, Michael, Linda, Frank, Dianna and Leeanna.

He was a jack of all trades and master of anything he tried. He worked for many years for Foster Manufacturing in Strong, drove heavy equipment for D.C. Morton’s, Paul Bolduc and Mark Beaurgard. Over his work career, he experienced and took pride in many facets of what Rangeley is about. He worked one of the last log drives on the Dead River with his oldest son, Edwin Lowell, and was proud to take care of property for the Garrigues, Gimbels and Goffs.

In 1962, he became a Master Mason, and took pride at receiving his 55-year membership pin in October of 2017. He was inducted into the Loggers Hall of Fame and was the current holder of the Boston Post Cane as the oldest Rangeley resident. Mr. Lowell was a hunter, fisherman and guide, where he loved the outdoors. Of his many accomplishments, his pride was his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was witty and funny and a man of few words. However, he believed that once your word was given you always followed through. He taught his children from an early age that it was important to help others and to be true to themselves. He brought them up to be independent and supported everything they did. It was never good enough to just do a job, you had to do it to the best of your ability. If you did, then no one could ever be displeased.

He is survived by two sons, Michael and his wife, Rachel of Sandy River and Frank and his wife, Linda of Coplin Plantation; two daughters, Linda Thibodeau of Rangeley and Leeanna Wilbur and her husband, Bob of Rangeley; daughter-in-law, Susan Lowell; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Wanda Ferguson and her husband, Holman of Rangeley. He was predeceased by his soulmate, Ethelin; a daughter, Dianna; and a son, Edwin Lowell, of Rangeley; three grandchildren, Christine Lowell, Richard and Pamela Eustis; son-in-law, Pierre Thibodeau; siblings, Glen, Bill, Claude Jr., Everett, Carson, Mythel and Fonda.

Condolences and tributes as well as a memorial video may be share on his memorial wall at wwwwilesrc.com.

Richard E. Lowell

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