RUSKIN and TAMPA, Fla. – Monday, July 23, Ernest L. “Ernie” Packard, 79, of Norway and Valrico, Fla., died peacefully at LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care at Sun City, Ruskin, Fla., where he had resided for 11 days, with his beloved wife, Beverly at his side.

On Sept. 11, on the 59th anniversary of their wedding, Beverly “Bev” (Plaisted) Packard, 79, died at Tampa General Hospital and joined Ernest to celebrate together, for eternity.

He was born to James Henry and Hazel Ione (Jordan) Packard, on March 30, 1928, in Sumner. She was born in West Farmington, Dec. 31, 1927, the daughter of Roland V. and Algie A. (Masterman) Plaisted.

He was educated in West Paris schools and, after his military service, earned his graduate education high school diploma. He served in Company K, 34th Regiment of the US Army, and was a member of the Army of Occupation in Japan. He was a member of the Mundt-Allen Post 81 of the American Legion of Bethel.

He was a past master of Jefferson Lodge 100 A.F. & A.M., Woodstock, and in July was presented his 50-year membership pin by his son Roland. He was a member of The Androscoggin Valley, Lewiston, and Portland Consistory, Portland, of the Scottish Rite for 47 years and the Kora Shrine, Lewiston, and the Brandon Shrine Club, Brandon, Fla. He was a member and past-president of the Oxford County Shrine Club and as a member of the Oxford County Funsters Clown Unit. He participated in numerous Shrine and municipal parades in New England as a happy mini-bike clown.

She was a graduate of Farmington High School, and was employed by Hamilton O. Cornwall from the age of 12 until her retirement in 1978. She had supervised or managed many aspects of production at facilities of Cornwall Wood Products in South Paris, Norway, Oxford and West Buxton.

He retired in 1987 as a maintenance supervisor after 39 years of service to Boise Cascade Paper Group “to play golf with Bev.”

The Packards are survived by sons, Roland S., and his wife, Mary Anne of Greenfield, Mass., and Frank H. of Las Vegas, Nev.; a daughter, Gayle P. Russell, and her husband, Thomas J., of Bryant Pond and Valrico, Fla.; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; Ernest’s brother, Ralph E. Packard of Mims, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Annita Packard of Mims, Fla., and Elaine Pike of Gorham; Beverly’s brother, Earland, and his wife, Olene “Lee” Masterman of Weld; sister, Gladys, and her husband, Bernard “Bernie” Shink of Jay; and many special nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Vernal, Leon, George, Malcolm, Carroll and Frank; sisters, A. Louise Dodge and L. Alura Dudley; special brother-in-law, H. Stanley Andrews; and special nephews, Ormand “Ormie” and James “Jimmy” Andrews.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ernest; her parents; brothers, Carl and Bernard Plaisted; and sisters, Ruth Robinson, Ethel Filion, Esther Howard and Bessie McIntire.