Ronald "Bumpa" Strout

Ronald 'Bumpa' Strout, 61
GORHAM -- Ronald 'Bumpa' Strout, 61, husband of Deborah P. (Colburn) Strout, passed away from a long, hard battle with cancer on April 22, 2011. He was surrounded by family and friends at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Ron was born on June 3, 1949, in Dover-Foxcroft, to Lorin 'Tige' Strout and Lucy M. (Martin) Strout. He attended Milo schools where he graduated in 1967. He then went on to serve in the United States Coast Guard and later attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute where he received a business degree.
Ron spent a good deal of his working life focused on International Commercial Credit and Sales. He was employed by several companies including Borg-Warner, Yankee Industrial Truck, ABB and Montalvo Corp. Ron always spoke fondly of his time he spent as a young man working for the Great Northern Paper Company - Woodland Operations at Machias Lake.
Ron had a passion for playing both guitar and mandolin. He especially enjoyed blues, bluegrass and jazz. Later in life, he played at numerous venues including two years with the 'Fiddle-icious' Orchestra. He could often be found gathering together with fellow musicians to play for guests at The Pine Crest Bed and Breakfast in Gorham. Like his father, Ron proudly supported numerous organizations including the American Legion - Post 41 and the Maine Bluegrass Association. In his final days he worked with the Cancer Community Center of South Portland to create 'Still in Tune;' a support group for all musicians affected by cancer.
Although Ron enjoyed playing music, he was first and foremost a family man. He loved spending time with his wife of 30 years, Debbie; traveling, visiting family or just talking quietly by the pool. He also loved spending time with his eight grandchildren and great-nephew. They were the
Ronald 'Bumpa' Strout
joy of his life and he worked to stay in touch with them regularly no matter the distance.
He is survived by his wife, Debbie Strout of Gorham; mother, Lucy Strout of Conroe, Texas; brother, Keith Strout and wife Sue of Conroe, Texas; son, Scott Strout and wife Cindy of O'Fallon, Ill., daughter, Kelly Strout-Franke and partner Kelly Miller of Hampshire, Ill., daughter, Suzanne Parent and husband Robert of Portland, son, Renard Davis and wife Mary Jean of Lunenburg, Mass.; sister-in-law, Pen Ackerly of Abington, Mass., a brother-in-law, Charles Colburn of Hyde Park, Mass.; niece, Melissa Gorman and husband Larry of East Bridgewater, Mass.; eight grandchildren, Bobby and Natalie Parent, Cody and Morgan Strout, Stan Franke, Jackie, Joey and Ryan Davis; and great- nephew, Josh Gorman. He loved them all; including his neighbor's children, Abby and Zoe. He will also be sadly missed by his feline friends, Manny and Miley. They gave him so much love and comfort during the past year.
The family would like to thank Matthew Dugan, D.O., Julie Baither, N.P. and all the wonderful nurses, M.A.'s and front staff from MCCM. They were wonderful and helped us through a very hard journey. We would also like to thank the extraordinary nursing staff at MMC Gibson Pavilion who took such wonderful care of Ron.
Relatives and friends are welcome to visit with the family at the Dolby & Dorr Funeral Chapel, 76 State St., Gorham, on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. Services will be held at the Cressey Road United Methodist Church, 81 Cressey Rd., Gorham on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 11 a.m. For online condolences, please visit our website at www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com.
Donations can be made
in lieu of flowers to the
Maine Cancer Foundation at:
http://www.mainecancer.org/
Donations/in/Memory/or/Honor