HAMPTON, N.H. – Robert Lawrence Kurry, formerly of Brewer, Maine, passed away on April 15, 2021, in Hampton, N.H., from esophageal cancer. He was born on Oct. 30, 1946 to his parents, William and Althea Rokes Kurry.

Bob grew up in Falmouth and Raymond and graduated from Windham High School. He was the first in the family to attend college, proudly graduating from the University of Southern Maine with a BA in Business and studying at Western New England School of Law.

While at the University of Southern Maine, he met Karla Gardner and they were married on April 9th, 1977 in Ashland, Maine. They worked and lived throughout the state, enjoying daytrips to the coast, antique shopping in old barns, attending auctions and visiting friends and family whenever possible.

In his professional life, Bob worked many jobs throughout Maine, from Kittery to the town manager’s office in Madawaska, eventually retiring from Bangor Hydro.

Passionate about politics and volunteering for many Democratic candidates and causes, Bob also avidly followed the stock market and read about investing theories. Storytelling, long tales shared among his friends and family, gave him great satisfaction and much cause for laughter. This he thoroughly enjoyed, along with a good beer among those who loved him immensely.

Bob’s relationship to animals, including many cats in their home over the years, possibly began with a pet parakeet named Sam or a dog named Duchess. He enjoyed travel, highlights being alligators and birds in Florida, farm animals on his grandparents’ Rokes’ Poultry Farm in Camden, Maine and many bear and moose sightings on Northern Maine back roads with the adventurous Karla, who was the love of his life for 40 years.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Karla; brother, William Michael Kurry and parents Althea and William Kurry. He is survived by his sister Sharon Randall and husband Fred of Georgetown, Maine, sister Deborah Toohey and husband Garritt of Rye, N.H. and sister-in-law Sandi Kurry of Rapid City, S.D.; and son, Jorma Kurry and wife Karin, and their son, Iain, of Falmouth. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was very excited to meet his youngest niece, Sascha Toohey, and enjoy her antics. His last five years were shared and enjoyed with his special friend Alista Noble of Poland, Maine, who shared his spirituality, love of the Atlantic, driving trips to Florida and rock collecting.

The family of RL Kurry is ever thankful for the respectful, compassionate care given throughout Covid-19 and throughout his cancer diagnosis by the Partridge House Team, Compassus Hospice Team of nurses, bereavement counselor and Chaplin. He will be among us when we hear the birds, feel the breezes from the coast and drive the miles of adventures ahead. For now, we know he has joined his Karla and loved ones.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in late summer in Rye Beach, N.H.



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