Rev. Chandler Maling Holmes

The Rev. Chandler Maling “Hap” Holmes, 84, of Cheshire, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at Berkshire Medical Center.
He was formerly of Robinson Road, Hinsdale, where he resided for a year before residing at Mount Greylock Extended Care Facility, Pittsfield, for the past two years. He had resided in Cheshire from 1945 until 1970 and in North Waterboro, Maine, from 1970 until 1997.
Born April 18, 1920, in Biddeford, Maine, he was the son of the Rev. Lester and Susan (Maling) Holmes. He attended schools in New Hampshire, Maine and Worcester, where he graduated from North High School in 1939. He went to college and seminary at Eastern Baptist College, Philadelphia, Pa., where he graduated in 1944.
He was ordained in 1945 at the Cheshire Baptist Church. He was pastor of that church from 1945 until 1970 and the Berkshire Union Chapel for part of that time. His second pastorate was at North Waterboro (Maine) Community Church, where he served from 1970 until his retirement in 1997. His father also had been pastor of that church in Maine.
From the 1970s and 1980s, he worked as a funeral assistant at Heald Funeral Home, Springvale, Maine.
He joined the Masons and became past deputy grand master from 1956 to 1957. He received his 50-year pin from the Grand Lodge.
While in Cheshire, he worked at the former Cheshire Garage doing many jobs there and was affectionately known as “Hap.”
In Cheshire and Maine, he was a longtime member of the volunteer fire departments. He also played the trumpet and sang at many events. He was the co-founder of the Men’s Interfaith Breakfast in Cheshire and had an avid interest in model trains.
His wife, the former Marian Ruth Marshall, whom he married Aug. 25, 1943, in Waterboro, Maine, died Feb. 17, 2004.
He leaves three daughters, Susan H. Brady of Wilbraham, Leslie R. LaPlante of Hinsdale and Carolyn H. Gawron of Scarborough, Maine; four sisters, Phyllis Mugridge of York, Maine, Elizabeth Covell of Eastham, Marjorie Bock of West Newfield, Maine, and Ruth Hammond of Lyman; five grandchildren, Timothy Brady, Christopher Brady, Jamie LaPlante, Jodi LaPlante-Santos and Nathan Gawron; 10 great-grandchildren; 23 nieces and nephews; and three sons-in-law, R. Bruce Brady, Robert LaPlante and Stanley Gawron.
A brother, Philip Holmes, and a sister, Shirley Clarke, are deceased.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for the Rev. Chandler Holmes will be Thursday, Feb. 3, 3 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Cheshire, with the Rev. Linda Shaw, pastor, and the Rev. William D. Furey, pastor of the Berkshire Union Chapel, officiating. Burial will be in the spring at Elder Grey Cemetery, North Waterboro, Maine.
Calling hours at the church are Thursday, 1-3 p.m. A Masonic service will be held at 2:45 p.m. at the church. Calling hours at the North Waterboro Community Baptist Church, North Waterboro, Maine, are Saturday, Feb. 5, noon-2 p.m., with a service to begin at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cheshire Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Saco, Maine, or North Waterboro Community Baptist Church through the Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home, 121 N. State Road, Cheshire, MA 01225, which is in charge of arrangements.