Obituary for Merlin H "Cush" Gray Jr.
Merlin (Cush) Gray Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2020.
Merlin was born in Boothbay Harbor on June 25, 1931 to Merlin and Edna (Cheviot) Gray.
Upon graduation from Boothbay Harbor High School, class of 1950, he enlisted in the Air Force.
On September 17, 1955 he married Faye Burnham, who had been enamored with him ever
since he made ice cream cones for her as a “soda jerk” at Porter’s Drugstore. They were
married for 62 years until Faye’s passing in 2017. They traveled extensively and raised two
children, a daughter, Cathy and a son, Dennis (deceased).
Merlin’s post retirement was spent in Boothbay Harbor where he worked at several jobs. He
was a fair weather lobsterman in Linekin Bay, road foreman for the town of Boothbay, and a
contract mail carrier for the town of Southport. Being a lover of sweets, Christmas was his
favorite time to deliver the mail because his many friends along the route would leave treats for
him in their mailboxes. Most knew that brownies were his dessert of choice.
Like many others from “the Harbor”, the Gray’s became “snowbirds” migrating to Stuart and
Port St. Lucie, Florida where they lived until 2012 when they finally came back home to
Boothbay.
Merlin was a proud lifetime member of the Masons and belonged to Seaside Lodge;
he also was a member of the American Legion in Boothbay Harbor, as well as a member of the
Elks Lodge in Port St. Lucie.
Cush, as he was known to many, was a loving father and grandfather, an easy going man with
a great sense of humor, and a people person who never hesitated to give a hug or a handshake
to everyone he met. He had a sharp memory of the many good times throughout his life and
shared his entertaining reminiscences with anyone who would listen. He enjoyed socializing
with friends which in his younger years usually involved golf, music, cocktails and snacks. Lots
of snacks!
Over the past few years he spent happy hours playing cribbage and socializing at the
Community Center and he especially liked gathering with friends and relatives at the various
church luncheons. Last October Merlin was beyond thrilled to be able to go with Honor Flight
Maine to visit the memorials in Washington, DC.
Survivors include Cathy and husband Timothy Hodgdon, grandson Kyle Hodgdon of Los
Angeles, CA, granddaughter Audrey Hodgdon and husband Caleb Easton of Boothbay, brother in-law Louis Burnham, sister-in-law Sheila Sears and many nieces and nephews. Special friend, Barbara McGlauflin brought him much appreciated companionship and made his last years brighter.
A funeral service will be held at the American Legion Hall at 1:00 on Saturday February 8, 2020. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service PO Box 280 Boothbay, Maine 04537, American Legion Post #36, PO Box 874, Boothbay Harbor,
Maine 04538, or The Community Center PO Box 335, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538
Merlin was born in Boothbay Harbor on June 25, 1931 to Merlin and Edna (Cheviot) Gray.
Upon graduation from Boothbay Harbor High School, class of 1950, he enlisted in the Air Force.
On September 17, 1955 he married Faye Burnham, who had been enamored with him ever
since he made ice cream cones for her as a “soda jerk” at Porter’s Drugstore. They were
married for 62 years until Faye’s passing in 2017. They traveled extensively and raised two
children, a daughter, Cathy and a son, Dennis (deceased).
Merlin’s post retirement was spent in Boothbay Harbor where he worked at several jobs. He
was a fair weather lobsterman in Linekin Bay, road foreman for the town of Boothbay, and a
contract mail carrier for the town of Southport. Being a lover of sweets, Christmas was his
favorite time to deliver the mail because his many friends along the route would leave treats for
him in their mailboxes. Most knew that brownies were his dessert of choice.
Like many others from “the Harbor”, the Gray’s became “snowbirds” migrating to Stuart and
Port St. Lucie, Florida where they lived until 2012 when they finally came back home to
Boothbay.
Merlin was a proud lifetime member of the Masons and belonged to Seaside Lodge;
he also was a member of the American Legion in Boothbay Harbor, as well as a member of the
Elks Lodge in Port St. Lucie.
Cush, as he was known to many, was a loving father and grandfather, an easy going man with
a great sense of humor, and a people person who never hesitated to give a hug or a handshake
to everyone he met. He had a sharp memory of the many good times throughout his life and
shared his entertaining reminiscences with anyone who would listen. He enjoyed socializing
with friends which in his younger years usually involved golf, music, cocktails and snacks. Lots
of snacks!
Over the past few years he spent happy hours playing cribbage and socializing at the
Community Center and he especially liked gathering with friends and relatives at the various
church luncheons. Last October Merlin was beyond thrilled to be able to go with Honor Flight
Maine to visit the memorials in Washington, DC.
Survivors include Cathy and husband Timothy Hodgdon, grandson Kyle Hodgdon of Los
Angeles, CA, granddaughter Audrey Hodgdon and husband Caleb Easton of Boothbay, brother in-law Louis Burnham, sister-in-law Sheila Sears and many nieces and nephews. Special friend, Barbara McGlauflin brought him much appreciated companionship and made his last years brighter.
A funeral service will be held at the American Legion Hall at 1:00 on Saturday February 8, 2020. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service PO Box 280 Boothbay, Maine 04537, American Legion Post #36, PO Box 874, Boothbay Harbor,
Maine 04538, or The Community Center PO Box 335, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538