Almon Ronald McDougal

       MCDOUGAL, Almon Ronald, 89, NEW SWEDEN, August 21, 2014. Arrangements are under the care of Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, Caribou.

    NEW SWEDEN – Almon Ronald McDougal, 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, August 21, 2014. He was born October 7, 1924, in Woodland, Aroostook, ME, the son of Hollis Franklin and Mabel Viola (Haney) McDougal. 
    Almon was a graduate of a one-room schoolhouse in New Sweden and of Caribou High School in 1943. He did potato farming with his father after graduation and then joined the U.S. Navy in October of 1945. He was assigned to the USS New York in the Pacific Theater in WWII and survived a tidal wave that damaged the ship.
    Almon returned to New Sweden to farm with his father after the war. He married Marilyn Norma Taylor on June 19, 1948, and they resided in New Sweden for the next 66 years. Almon continued to grow potatoes and was a school bus driver for three years and worked as an auto body mechanic at Paul Dyer’s and then Harmon’s in Caribou before opening his own auto body shop on his New Sweden farm. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of New Sweden, serving for many years on the deacon board and as a founding leader of the Boys’ Christian Service Brigade. He also served on the New Sweden school board, the PTA, the town planning board, the Grange, and the trustee board of the New Sweden Historical Society. Almon enjoyed family events and vacations, boating at his camp on Madawaska Lake, fishing and hunting, operating his ham radio as K1SUT, spending some winter months in Florida, reading the daily paper and watching Red Sox baseball games.
    He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Ruth Wiggins; his nephew, Stephen Wiggins; and his niece, Susan Begin.
    He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn; two sons, three daughters, and spouses, Brian and Lena McDougal, Eileen McDougal, Kathy and Steve Burden all of New Sweden, Janice McDougal of Caribou and Barry McDougal of Minot, Maine; five grandchildren and their spouses; Erica and Terry Wolfe of Eddington, Douglas and Sarah McDougal of Old Town, Joshua and Lindsay Burden of Houlton, Matthew and Rachel Burden of Calais, and Jessica and Andrew Ciszewski of Ft. Kent; a sister-in-law, Elaine Jepson of New Sweden, five nieces and nephews: Diane and Kenneth Ward, Alan and Brenda Jepson, Kris and Nancy Treu, Wayne and Kathleen Jepson, and Lyla Dow and nine great-grandchildren.
    Friends and family were invited to visit from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lancaster Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover Street, Caribou, on Saturday, August 23. A funeral service was held at First Baptist Church, Westmanland Road, New Sweden at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, with Pastor Chris Hearn officiating. Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church or The Aroostook Brigade Camp. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lancastermorgan.com.