SOUTH PARIS – John Ross MacPherson, 70, of Otisfield died peacefully at the Maine Veterans Home on Saturday, April 24, with family at his side, following a brief illness.

Born May 4, 1933, in Chicago, he was the son of Kenneth (Scotty) MacPherson and Lucille (Ross) Welch.

He graduated from Rangeley High School in 1951, attended Maine Central Institute for a year and graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy with a degree in Marine Engineering in 1955.

During his high school and college career, he was an outstanding athlete excelling in baseball and football. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Navy becoming a naval aviator and flight instructor. Although flying was always his first love, he returned to Marine Engineering and worked for the Department of Defense until his retirement in1993.

A Registered Maine Guide, he was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoors man, his heart always remained in the “Highlands” of Rangeley. He was a lifetime member of the Kemankeag Masonic Lodge 213 and the Rumford Lodge of Elks 862.

A master of wit and humor, his life will be remembered and celebrated by his loving and devoted wife of 23 years, Cheryl Brackett MacPherson and his children, daughters, Deborah and Heather MacPherson, Peggy Wallace, and sons, John Scott and David Ross MacPherson; grandchildren, Kelly and Victor Wallace, Nicole, Stephanie, Ian and Zachary Ross MacPherson; special nieces and nephews, Mary Margaret Fitzmorris, Deborah, Jimmy and Kenneth Haley, Louise Kirk and Heather O’Donnell.

He was predeceased by his parents; and sister, Margaret (Peggy) Targett.