JOHN ALLEN DeRAPS Sr.

FRANKLIN - John Allen DeRaps Sr., 67, passed away peacefully July 24, 2012, with his entire family by his side at Maine Coast Hospital, Ellsworth, after a long courageous battle with melanoma. He was born Nov. 6, 1944, in Hancock, the son of Hazen R. Sr. and Marie E. (Richards) DeRaps. As a proud American, John served six years in the U.S. Army as a specialist five during the Vietnam War era. He was a member of Franklin Veterans Club, a highly respected member of the fishing community and for more than 30 years the proud captain of his own fishing vessel, The Laurie Lisa. John had two loves of his life - the love for his family and his love for working on the ocean. Sharing 50 beautiful years of marriage together, John and Deborah stressed important lessons of life. He valued hard work, friendship, loyalty, family and keeping your word - instilling these values in his family. John is survived and lovingly remembered by his beloved wife, Deborah J. (Warden) DeRaps; brother, William F. DeRaps Sr. of Hancock; several nieces and nephews; son, and new captain of The Laurie Lisa, John A. DeRaps Jr. and wife, Marianne, and grandchildren, Brandon and Katelyn DeRaps, of Trenton, and Brianna DeRaps and great-grandson, Caleb Campbell, of Lincoln; and daughters, Julia A. (DeRaps) Nicola and husband, Mina, and grandson, Aidan John DeRaps-Russell of Franklin, Tammy E. (DeRaps) Derr and husband, Jesse Derr, and grandson, Christopher Derr, of Ellsworth, and Wendy N. (DeRaps) Richardson and husband, Micah, and granddaughter, Chelsea DeRaps-Richardson, of Windham. John was predeceased by his beloved parents, Hazen Sr. and Marie DeRaps; brothers, Hazen Jr. and Richard DeRaps; and twin baby girls, Laurie Jean and Lisa Mae DeRaps. John was the most caring, compassionate, giving man, a devoted husband, father, grandfather "PaPa," brother, uncle and friend. He will be forever missed by all who knew him. John's family extends love and special thanks to all who touched their lives and supported them through this difficult journey. A celebration of John's life, including a special harbor tribute with a parade of fishing vessels by his friends, with military honors after, will be held 9 a.m. Aug. 5 at Doane's Point Beach, Sorrento. A remembrance luncheon for family and friends will be afterward at Sorrento Community Building. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the family in honor of John for future purchase of items for the Hospice Palliative Care Suite at Maine Coast Hospital.


This obituary was originally published in the BDN Maine.