Orville Taylor “Tex” Ranger, age 90, died on Saturday, August 5th at the Highlands in Topsham surrounded by his immediate family after a long illness. He was a man of many interests and talents who practiced law in Brunswick for over 40 years.

Tex got his nickname from comparisons of his saxophone playing to that of noted big band musician, Tex Beneke. Tex grew up in Fairfield, Maine, but was born in Sanford, Florida where his father and uncle were engaged in housing development activity before the advent of the Great Depression brought them back to Maine. His mother, Doris (Orcutt), was a nurse who died when Tex was 14. His father, Ralph, served as principal of Lawrence High School in Fairfield.

Tex’s musical talents emerged early and for most of his life he performed with a variety of musical groups, beginning with his high school band and orchestra, and later moving to an American Legion brass marching band, the local municipal band, and several German bands. He played tenor and alto sax, but later focused on his favorite instrument—the clarinet. He even decided later in life to challenge himself by learning to play the piano. He was a good singer and could cover the harmony parts where few others venture.

After graduation from high school, Tex began college at the University of Maine before transferring to Worcester Polytechnic Institute as part of a Navy aviation cadet training program. His military service was cut short by the end of World War II. He then attended Colby College in Waterville graduating in 1948 and moved on to earn his law degree three years later from Boston University. He was admitted to the bar in both Massachusetts and Maine and began his legal practice in Greenfield, Mass. Before entering practice in Brunswick he served as an Assistant Attorney General in Maine where he drafted many statutes dealing with municipal law.

Tex was a partner in several Brunswick law firms, the last being the firm of Ranger and Copeland, now Brunswick’s oldest in terms of continuous operation. He also served as the Brunswick Town Attorney for most of a twenty-year period starting in 1967. He was very active in a variety of town organizations with a lengthy term as Chair of the town’s Memorial Day Committee and many years of membership of the Rotary Club of Brunswick including terms as club president and District Governor.

Tex was a gifted writer and grammarian. He was a longtime contributor of articles and opinion pieces to the Brunswick Times Record and the Coastal Journal. He was an early practitioner of organic gardening and spent many hours in the garden at his residence of 50 years on Harding Road in Brunswick. Additionally, he was an active political conservative involved in campaigns and activities of the local Republican party.

He was first married to the former Nancy Gilbert of Massachusetts and later to Susan Wallace of Anniston, Alabama, both of whom predeceased him. Tex and Sue became avid bicyclists, an activity that became the focus of several European adventures. They had two children of their own and greatly enjoyed raising their blended family at their Harding Road home. He and Sue also devoted considerable energy to the restoration of the residence formerly occupied by the Harding family, parts of which date back to 1777.

He is survived by his children, John Ranger and wife Kim, of Brunswick, Robin Hagen and husband Mark, of San Diego, Judith Ranger Smith of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Andrea Ranger of Somerville, Massachusetts. and Laura Ranger, who recently returned to Brunswick to care for her father. He is also survived by the children of his late siblings, Hubert (Hub), Alan, and Janet, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 9th at the First Parish Church of Brunswick, where he was a member for many years. Memorial contributions are encouraged to Brunswick- Topsham Memorial Day Parade, c/o committee chair, 29 Cumberland St, Brunswick, ME 04011.

Memories and condolences can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.