BRUSHETT, Rev. Donald A., 97, Oct. 12, 2015. Services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Houlton United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
HOULTON — Rev. Donald A. Brushett, 97, died with family present on October 12, 2015. He was born in Creston, NL on August 1, 1918, his mother, Mamie Fizzard Brushett died in childbirth and his father, Ernest Brushett, captain of a trade schooner, was lost at sea returning from Portugal when Don was a year old. For the next 16 years he was cared for and loved by his grandparents, Alvina and James Fizzard and a caring aunt, Francis Hollett.
At the age of 17 with no formal training he taught school for two years in an outport village, Famish Cove (now called Fair Haven). His class had 20 students in all grades. He soon discovered that the school was on the first floor and the church was upstairs. The teacher was expected to “do” the Sunday services, reading the sermons of well-known preachers of the day.
After two years at Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, he completed his degree in theology at McGill University in Montreal, QUE. He was appointed to his first church in St. Albans ,Vermont. During his 36 years of ministry in the Methodist church, he had the privilege of building a new church in Latham, NY. He also served as District Superintendent of the Green Mountain District in Vermont for a 6 year term.
In 1947 he married Ethel, his beloved wife of 68 years. They have four daughters: Lynda, Kim, Kathy, and Patty, married to Jay Corcoran, Rob McGrail, John Wakefield and Jeff Forward; one son Dr. Donald Brushett and his wife, Dr. Janet Parker. They have eight grandsons: Brendt Corcoran, Chris and David Brushett, Jeremy and Ryan McGrail, Ethan Wakefield and Graham and Evan Forward and two granddaughters: Katie Brushett and Kaitlyn Wakefield. Three great-grandchildren complete the immediate family: Finn McGrail and his brother, Taj and Stella Forward. Extended family includes David French of St. John’s, NL and his wife, Jill, Stella Brushett of Port Hilford, NS, along with friends and former parishioners.
Upon retirement in 1982 Ethel and Don lived six months in Port Hilford, NS and six months in Houlton, ME. Early in his retirement years, Don served as interim minister at First Baptist Church on Court Street. Later he served at Mars Hill and Lincoln United Methodist Churches.
Don saw his life as wonderful and was either incapable or refused to see it any other way. Above all else he was a loving husband and dad. He loved gently and was greatly loved in return. Don and Ethel have attended the Houlton United Methodist Church for the last 33 years. There will be a celebration service at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2015 at the church. Friends of Don and Ethel’s and church members are invited to the service followed by fellowship and refreshments. Gifts in memory of Pastor Don may be given to the United Methodist Church, 57 Military St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book: dunnfuneral.com
