LEWISTON – H. Justin “Duffy” Doane Jr., 80, retired Mechanic Falls fire chief, of Mechanic Falls, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Central Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Lewiston on Nov. 21, 1925, the son of Henry J. Doane Sr., and Blanche Campbell Doane. He graduated from Mechanic Falls High School and married Marie J. Allen in 1947.

He had his own business, Doane Photo, and worked his entire life in Lewiston at Bauer Hardware and Hall & Knight as a shipping/receiving warehouse foreman, but his true calling was being a fireman. It was in his heart and his blood. He was a third-generation firefighter. He joined the Mechanic Falls Fire Department in 1947 at the age of 22 and in only two years was promoted to lieutenant. He became fire chief in 1964 and held that position until 1969. He remained with the department in a variety of positions until the time of his death. He was a 58-year member of the department.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Mechanic Falls, Tyrian Lodge 73 AF & AM, Dwinal Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, St. Andrews RAC 51 and the Firemen’s Association, and a lifetime member of the Maine State Federation of Firefighters. He participated in the town’s 75th Anniversary Committee and was a member of the civil defense.

Not many people had a fallout shelter in their basement or a fire alarm panel mounted in the front room of their house. He loved fishing – all types – whether it was brook, lake or deep sea.

He is survived by his children, Linda and Norman Boulgier of Randolph, Alan of Auburn, Brian and Ann Doane of Litchfield, Mavis and David Smith of Bedford, Mass., and Colleen and Richard Fitts of South Paris; eight grandchildren, Amanda Boulgier, Aletha and Arlie Thompson, Nathan and Jessica Doane, Laura and Megan Doane, and Devin, Dusty and Daisie Smith; and four great-grandchildren, Marie J. Thompson, Dominick Thompson, Azure Doane and Aurora Doane.

He was predeceased by his wife in 1998.

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