George N. Cannell

SKOWHEGAN -- George N. Cannell, 86, of Skowhegan, passed away surrounded by his family Friday, June 10, 2011, at Redington Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan.

He was born Oct. 23, 1924, in Boston, the son of Nick and Anna (Halloran) Cannell.

George attended Boston schools and Mechanic Arts High School. He served in the Army during World War II from March 1943 to February 1946. He served with the 588th Signal Operational Battalion, A Company, Radio Platoon, overseas in General McArthur's 3rd Army in the Philippines, Luzon, and Manila, then serving in occupational Japan with General McArthur's 8th Army before being discharged honorably on Feb. 24, 1946.

George married the former Elaine Blaisdell in Skowhegan on Sept. 5, 1949.

He started his working career in Boston, where he had his own fruit and produce route in Newton, Mass. In 1954 he moved to Skowhegan where he started George's Market on lower North Avenue. In 1963 he purchased what is now known as George's Banana Stand. He owned and operated George's Banana Stand for 50 years and he eventually sold the business to Randy Wright.

George was a member of the Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce, Skowhegan Lions Club, and president of the Skowhegan Rotary Club, past master of the Blue Lodge in Skowhegan, The Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston, a charter member of the Elks Lodge in Skowhegan, member of the Central Maine Senior Golf Association, Lakewood Golf Course, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He and Elaine spent their winters in Winter Haven, Fla., for 22 years and they were members of the Cypresswood Country Club. George had his own band, playing locally in Skowhegan where he sang and played the drums. While wintering in Florida he played in the Heartland Band in Haines City, Fla., where he played the electric bass and sang.

Besides his wife of 61 years, Elaine of Skowhegan, he is survived by his two daughters, Linda Bleile and her husband, Edward, of Wiscasset, and Cindy Cannell of Augusta; two grandsons, Eric Bleile of Stamford, Conn., and Steven Bleile of Virginia Beach, Va.; one granddaughter, Lindsay Watts of Augusta; sister in-law, Reta Wheater of Pascoug, R.I.; many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews, as well as his special friends and golfing buddies Mick Powers, Jim Dufour, Robert Gould, and now deceased Mait Richardson and Bill Philbrick Jr.

He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, at the Skowhegan Federated Church, Island Avenue, Skowhegan, with the Rev. Mark Tanner officiating. Burial will follow at the Southside Cemetery in Skowhegan.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan.

Donations may be made in George's memory to the Skowhegan Free Public Library, 9 Elm St., Skowhegan, ME 04976, or to the Somerset Humane Society, P.O. Box 453, Skowhegan, ME 04976.