Arthur Brackett Hess

Arthur Brackett Hess, 86, of Phillips Road died at home on Friday, May 8, 2009.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Irma (Cleaves) Hess; two daughters, Katharine O.H. Mills and her husband Gregory of Holden and Laura C.H. Savage and her husband The Rev. Arthur Savage of Chichester, NH; five grandchildren, Jeremiah Savage and his wife Heather Mathews, Bryan Mills and his fiancé Stephanie Pavone, Erin Ellis and her husband Todd, Jessica Savage and her husband Dustin Haines and Sara Mills; two great-grandchildren, Ashlin Savage and Molly Ellis; sister-in-law, Vina (Cleaves) Hewson of Warwick, RI and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his siblings: Frank, Wendell, Burton, Ruth and Alice and his best friend, William Hewson. He was born in Springfield, MA, son of Frank Y. and Annie M. (Brackett) Hess, and lived in Penfield, NY and Haynesville, ME before moving to Holden last year. He was a graduate of Classical High School in Springfield, MA and a 1950 graduate of Brown University in Providence with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II serving in the European, African, Middle Eastern Theatre as a member of the Signal Corps. He was a production engineer at Xerox Corporation and previously worked for Minneapolis-Honeywell and Singer Sewing Machine Co.

Arthur once said he had no valuables except his family. He was cherished for his sense of humor, his giving heart and steadfast love for his wife and family. He was a skilled wood craftsman and freely shared his talents including volunteering 5000 hours to the Houlton Regional Hospital. Later in life he developed an interest in antique reed organs and restored one for each of his five grandchildren. He was a member of The Reed Organ Society.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Houlton Regional Hospital, The Arthur B. Hess Colon Cancer Educational Fund and can be mailed to the Houlton Regional Hospital, 20 Hartford Street, Houlton, ME 04730. The monies will fund a new program created in Arthur's memory to provide information on how colon cancer can be prevented.

The Funeral Service will be at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden at 2:30 PM May 17th. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Haynesville, ME. A Memorial Service will be held at the Houlton United Methodist Church, Houlton, ME at a later date to be determined by the family. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, MA is directing arrangements.

www.milesfuneralhome.com