Mervin L. Tuttle, Jr. Obituary (1949 - 2021)

CLINTON- Mervin L. Tuttle Jr., 72, of Clinton, Maine, passed away Saturday, July 17th, 2021 at Alfond Center for Health in Augusta, after a seven-month battle with COVID-19 respiratory complications. He was born in Waterville, Maine on January 19th, 1949 to Mervin L. Tuttle Sr. and Lenora A. Bickford Tuttle. Mervin attended school in Clinton and Fairfield, where we graduated with honors from Lawrence High School in 1968. While in high school, he was active in the bowling and ski clubs and was selected to attend the Dirigo Boys State his junior year. After high school, Mervin joined the Navy where he learned his trade as an electrician aboard the USS Orion and the USS Gilmore while stationed in Virginia and South Carolina. On July 5, 1969 he married his true love and adventure partner, Sally Marie Shores, and together they rode life’s roller coaster for over 52 years. Mervin and Sally moved into their new home in Clinton in January 1972, where they raised two children and he resided until his death. There he also quickly made an impression on the local community by volunteering with the Boy Scouts and the Rod and Gun Club where he taught youths and adults the Maine Hunter Safety course. After his military service, Mervin worked as a licensed electrician on many Central Maine construction projects until he was hired by MaineGeneral Health where he faithfully worked for over 34 years. He was also a strong golf player on his company golf team, even scoring a 159-yard hole-in-one at Unity’s Lakeview golf course in 1998. Mervin was not only a dedicated employee, father, and husband, but he also pursued several passionate hobbies. He enjoyed woodworking and was admired for his keen skills in which he built many pieces of furniture for his home and clocks for his family. Mervin also had a strong adventurous spirit and loved to travel. He would meticulously plan annual family vacations that spanned from Maine to Florida and all states in between. Mervin’s love of family and thirst for travel continued when his son joined the Air Force, and he and Sally would travel each year to Texas or California to explore those states. He also enjoyed hiking many trails throughout Maine, but especially the trails of Acadia National Park with friends and family. A patriot at his core, Mervin was a proud supporter of the men and women of the US military. He was a member of the American Legion, Willett-McKenney Post 186, and the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) of Maine. Mervin participated in numerous PGR events, providing honors to our Nation’s Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and honorably discharged veterans. Furthermore, he volunteered with Wreaths Across America where he helped lay thousands of wreaths each year at Veteran’s Memorial Cemeteries in Augusta and Chelsea. Mervin also continued his selfless dedication to the local community, where he cleaned, and power washed aged cemetery tombstones for veterans and civilians throughout Central Maine. After retiring from MaineGeneral in 2013, Mervin and Sally did not waste any time pursuing their lifelong goal of traveling the United States in their motorhome. Together they made two coast to coast journeys visiting 48 states along the way- even taking their two young grandsons once. They also traveled to Hawaii where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their son, daughter-in-law and grandsons. Closer to home, Mervin greatly enjoyed traveling the off-road trails of Maine with his wife and close friends in the Madison-Anson ATV Club. Mervin is lovingly missed by his wife, Sally; his son, Mervin Tuttle, III and his wife Jeanne, and his grandsons; Aiden and Andrew Tuttle. He will also be greatly missed by his Tuttle, Bickford, and Shores family members, close friends, and neighbors that meant so much to him. Mervin was predeceased by his daughter, Cheryl Tuttle; his parents, Mervin Sr. and Lenora Tuttle; and his father-in-law, Wilson Shores. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 31, at 1:00pm at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main Street, Fairfield, burial will follow at the Greenlawn Rest Cemetery, Route 100, Clinton. We would also like to thank our family, friends and his medical team at Alfond Center for Health for your kindness, help and support these past seven months. Bless you all. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Northern New England Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis at https://www.cff.org/northern-newengland/ or the Make-a-Wish Maine Foundation at https://wish.org/maine Arrangements are in the care of the Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main Street, Fairfield where condolences to the family may be shared on the obituary page of the website at www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com