1917 – 2003

LEWISTON – Leroy E. Linnell, 85, a resident of 29 Davis Ave., Auburn, died Wednesday, April 16, at the Russell Park Rehabilitation and Living Center.

He was born in Auburn Oct. 11, 1917, the son of Edgar and Hazel C. McCabe Linnell. He attended Auburn schools and graduated from Edward Little High School with the class of 1935. He served on all of the E. L. Class Reunion Committees since graduation. He was employed as a bookkeeper for the Auburn Packing Co., then for G. A. Peterson Co. where he became the Vice-President.

In February of 1961 he became the City Clerk for the City of Auburn, serving for 22 years until his retirement on Dec. 31, 1982. While serving as city clerk he was the first Auburn resident to serve as president of the Maine Municipal Association. He also belonged to the Tri-County Clerks Association and was president of the Maine Town and City Clerks Association, and was the first Maine Clerk to be president of The New England Clerks Association.

He was an honorary life member of the Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis Club where he served as secretary for many years. He was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in Tranquil Lodge 29 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons on April 14, 1954, a member of the Valley of the Androscoggin consisting of the Lewiston Lodge of Perfection, Auburn Council Princes of Jerusalem, H.H. Dickey Chapter Rose Croix, Maine Consistory Valley of Portland 32nd degree, and Kora Shrine, where he was an honorary member of the Kora Arab Patrol Drill Unit.

He married the former Frances M. Hirsch on Aug. 29, 1941.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Frances Linnell of Auburn; and cousins, Clarence Cole and his wife Dorothy, Arlene H. Simons, and Kenneth E. Hudson all of Auburn.