BRUNSWICK — Lawrence Bernard Caron, age 89, of River Road died quietly and peacefully Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at his home.

He was born in Brunswick May 1, 1923, the son of Elzear Joseph and Henriette Poirier Caron. He graduated from St. John’s Catholic School and attended Brunswick High School. On June 28, 1947, he married Lauriette Tetreault. Mr. Caron and his bride were very devoted to each other. Mrs. Caron passed away two-and-ahalf weeks ago on Oct. 16. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past June.

Mr. Caron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 19 to serve his country during World War II. He fought in the Asiatic Pacific theatre from January 1943 to November 1945. He landed in Nagasaki, Japan, five days after the dropping of the atomic bomb on that city. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 12, 1945, with the rank of line corporal.

Upon returning home, Mr. Caron worked at the Verney Mill as a Loom Fixer until the mill closed. In the 1950s he went to work as a Security Guard at the main gate of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. When an opening came up in the BNAS Crash & Rescue department he applied and was transferred. He worked as a Firefighter and was promoted to captain, remaining in that capacity until he retired in 1978. After his retirement he briefly worked part-time for the Brunswick Public Works department.

Mr. Caron raised three daughters with his wife, Laurie. In the summer months the family would vacation at Sebago Lake State Park and Old Orchard Beach. He was a great Dad and loved his three girls very much. Mr. Caron and his wife lost two other daughters due to miscarriages.

Mr. Caron was an avid sportsman and quite the competitor. He played ice hockey and softball in local leagues after the war. He was an avid candlepin bowler bowling at tournaments throughout the state and won several Alley Championships at the Bowling Bowl in Brunswick in the 1940s. He found his true sports passion in golf. He practiced incessantly at the game. He won several Brunswick Golf Club Championships and tournaments throughout the state, finished as runner-up in the 1967 Maine State Amateur Championship, and was proud of his five holes-in-one over his career. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brother, Leopold, in their younger years and then continued going to the woods with his good friend, Eddie Hill. Mr. Caron’s competitive streak showed up whenever he played Parcheesi or cribbage with family and friends.

Mr. Caron found his peace in being outdoors. If he wasn’t in the woods or on the golf course he was working on his home’s lawn or garden. Being the avid golfer that he was he strived to have a lawn that looked like a fairway. He enjoyed raising fruits and vegetables, from strawberries, raspberries and blueberries to corn, brussel sprouts and broccoli. He was an above average fix-it man. He spent the long Maine winters at his garage or basement work bench tinkering on something that needed repair.

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After Mr. Caron and his wife had both retired they traveled with their friends on several Maine Line bus tours and visited friends in Arizona. For several years they wintered in Punta Gorda, Fla., where he could indulge his passion of playing golf.

During the past few years Mr. Caron and his wife were home bound and being cared for by the wonderful caregivers of Aging Excellence of Brunswick. Over the past few months a very special nurse of Assisted Home Care of Lewiston also provided care. During the last few months of their lives Larry and Laurie would hold hands and recite the rosary together at 6:30 p.m. every evening along with Catholic TV.

Mr. Caron is a life-long communicant of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He is a 4th Degree and seventy-year member of Brunswick’s Sekenger Council #1947 of the Knights of Columbus and was an honorary member of the Brunswick Golf Club. He is a member of the American Legion and the Brunswick Elks Lodge.

Mr. Caron is predeceased by his parents; his brother, Leopold, and sister-in-law Yvette Tetu Caron; and his wife, Lauriette.

Surviving are his daughter Lorraine of Brunswick, daughter Suzanne Berry and her husband, Christopher, of New Jersey, daughter Evelyn Keating and her husband, Dennis, of Florida, and two grandsons, Andrew J. Keating of Washington and SA Adam J. Keating serving in the Navy stationed in California; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s the Baptist Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick.

Memorial donations may be made to the Knights of Columbus, c/o Grand Knight Bruce Talbot, 2 Columbus Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011. Memorial condolences may be expressed and a video tribute may be viewed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.


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