Shirley E. Keene

LEWISTON — Shirley E. Keene, 91, of Mechanic Falls passed away Saturday, March 11, at Central Maine Medical Center.

Shirley was born in Poland on March 13, 1925, a son of Fred and Clara (Strout) Keene. He was educated in Poland grammar schools and graduated as salutatorian from Mechanic Falls High School, Class of 1943.

For most of his life, Shirley was a stone and brick mason. He was a builder of the American Legion Hall in Mechanic Falls, Parker Hardware, the Elm Street School, Poland Community School and Central Maine Medical Center.

He was a member of the Tyrian Lodge 73 AF & AM, the American Legion Post 150 of Mechanic Falls, the Mechanic Falls Congregational Church, and the Maine State Grange. Shirley also enjoyed rebuilding antique cars. An avid outdoorsman, he loved fishing and hunting and was a private pilot.

He faithfully served his country in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and was stationed in the Philippines serving as a bombardier over Japan.

He lived in Mechanic Falls most of his life and married Mary Allard Purington on Jan. 10, 1975.

He is predeceased by his first wife, Carolyn Lisewski who died July 24, 2016; two sisters, Gertrude Fuller and Eleanor Thurlow; and two granddaughters, Megan and Mandy.

Besides his wife, Mary, of Mechanic Falls, Shirley leaves behind four daughters, Patricia Keene of Auburn, Sue Brackett and her husband, Jeffrey, of Poland, Jan Jordan and her husband, Larry, of Poland, and Jolleen Game and her husband, Mark, of Mechanic Falls; three sons, Richard Keene and his fiancée, Karen, of Auburn, Blaine Purington and his wife, Cheryl, of Montana, and Gary Purington and his wife, Linda, of Mechanic Falls; three brothers, Howard of Poland, Norman of Atkinson, N.H., and Hugh of Auburn; two sisters, Althea King and Rosalind Emery, both of Poland; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Central Maine Medical Center, Dr. Stein, and his nurse, Kip, and the entire staff for the outstanding care given to Shirley.

Condolences can be expressed at www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Shirley E. Keene