{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”c14c62b0-6f39-11e4-a761-779f7000a5c6″}}

{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”d0542220-6f39-11e4-824a-138edaf6565c”}}

SANFORD — Gene Bearss, 76, of Sanford, passed away on Nov. 13, 2014.

An avid collector of rocks and minerals, Gene passed away of a heart attack in his truck while on site at Mineral Hill in Wakefield, New Hampshire.

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1938. He served 22 years in the Navy and retired in 1976 as a chief avionics electrician technician. 

He married the love his life, Marie Rosalie Mazzaro, on April 20, 1963, and they just recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. They have two daughters, Angela Desrochers and Theresa Mazzaro, and two grandchildren, Matthew and Christian Desrochers. 

Never at a loss for an opinion and always willing to share his thoughts on any subject, people will remember Gene’s honest candor and wry sense of humor. They’ll also remember his generous heart and willingness to help anyone in need. Whether he was helping someone stranded on the side of a road or assisting a neighbor with paying their bills or having a little something extra at Christmas, Gene could always be counted on. 

A graveside service with military honors will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale.Arrangements are under the direction of the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford. For those planning an expression of sympathy, the family suggests donations in memory of Gene Bearss to the Heart & Vascular Center at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668. Donations may also be made at www.swdonate.org or by calling the foundation at 360-991-4256. Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com.