SOUTH PARIS — Eursel Connors Campbell, 92, formerly of Freeport and New Gloucester, passed away on June 4 at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris, with his daughter by his side.

He was born Sept. 9, 1918, in Houlton, the third son of George Ernest and Annie (Brown) Campbell. At the age of 16, he graduated from Mapleton High School in Mapleton, where he played alto sax in both the school and community band and excelled in baseball. After graduation, he made his way to Boston with the intention of trying out as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

In January 1938, he married Doris Mae Dow, also of Mapleton. Before joining the U.S. Army in 1944, he and Doris moved to Freeport, where they raised their family. After returning to Freeport from the European Theater in 1946, he was employed at the Eastland Shoe Co. before beginning his own business of installing and refinishing wood floors, which he enjoyed until his retirement in 1980.

Eursel enjoyed spending time with his family at his camp on Kingsbury Pond and at the Dow family camp on Machias Lake. When he wasn’t fishing the lakes for salmon, he was fishing the brooks for trout, for neither black flies nor subzero temperatures could keep him from his favorite pastime.

When not fishing, he was appointed camp cook, as he was renowned for his baked beans, mile-high biscuits and fried fish. His wit and humor were legendary, as he enjoyed a good joke, whether he was good-naturedly poking fun at friends, family (particularly gullible grandchildren) or himself.

He is survived and will be greatly missed by daughter, Anita Campbell and her husband, Alfred Proctor, of New Gloucester; daughter-in-law, Martha Campbell of Bradford; grandchildren, Kelly Brooks of Winthrop, Kristy Vickerson and her husband, Jim, of Monmouth, Kimberly Hallowell and her husband, Bernard, of Monmouth, Heather Campbell of New Gloucester, and Jamie Campbell of San Francisco; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Tade Brooks, Robert Vickerson, Erica and Emily Randall, Rayna Campbell and Samara Horwitch.

He was predeceased by his parents; his wife; his brothers, Robert, Vinton and Zane Campbell; his son, Roger Campbell; and his daughter, Dawna (Campbell) Savory.

 Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to share your condolences, memories and tributes with the Campbell family.