PORTLAND – Francis “Marcel” Laurence, 76, a resident of 4 Ventura St., Lewiston died Saturday evening, Aug. 7, at New England Rehabilitation Center following a short illness.

He was born in Lewiston, Oct. 19, 1927, the son of Adelard and Corinne (Cloutier) Laurence. He attended Lewiston schools and was a graduate of Lewiston High School. He was an Army veteran of World War II having served with the military police at allied headquarters in Vienna, Austria under General Mark Clark.

Following the war, he attended the University of Maine at Orono where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

After college, Mr. Laurence was employed with Henry P. Ross a food broker from 1951-1954. He then became sales manager York County Food Distributors for Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont from 1954-1992.

He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Lewiston. His hobbies included tennis, skiing, golf, and bridge which he was active in until his illness. He especially enjoyed each summer at his cottage at Old Orchard Beach with his wife and family since 1957.

Survivors include one daughter, Deborah and her husband, Dr. Christopher-Paul Milne, of Concord, N.H.; three grandchildren, Vanessa and Andrew Milne, of Manhattan, N.Y., as well as J. Maxwell Milne, of Concord, N.H.

He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, the former Barbara E. Wakefield Dec. 28, 2000, and one sister, Yvette Laurence Healy in 1973.