1926 – 2014

SCARBOROUGH — On Sunday, April 6, Carlton John Skilling, of Gray, passed away peacefully at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, with his three daughters at his side.

Carlton was born in Gray on Nov. 3, 1926, the second child to John and Catherine (Cobb) Skilling. He grew up on Cambell Shore Road, where he spent the rest of his life. He loved helping his grandfather, Albert Cobb, on his farm as a youth and spoke fondly of this relationship.

Carlton graduated from Pennell Institute in 1945 and immediately left to serve in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in the Panama Canal zone during World War II. He returned to Gray and married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Kuch, in May 1948. They lovingly raised three daughters together.

He worked for the Maine Department of Transportation for 37 years, the last 11 of which as a foreman in the Bridgton, Naples and Harrison area. He also owned his own paving business, which he worked at on Saturdays and his vacations. This enabled him to pay taxes on the lake property, which had come down through the family to him. He and Shirley loved their summers there with the girls and the extended Skilling family. Carlton lost his beloved Shirley in 1982, just months after his retirement.

In 1984, he married Lauris Grant and they had 20 wonderful years together, before her death in 2005.

Carlton loved to hunt and fish, especially in Eustis at a camp jointly owned with two brothers, two cousins, an uncle and a friend. He also loved to tell the antics of the “Lucky Seven” to the younger generations.

After a medical condition forced his retirement in 1981, he took up carving. Most of his carvings were of ducks and birds. He loved showing them off to company as did his three proud daughters.

Carlton was a member and past commander of the Gray American Legion Post 86 for more than 6O years. He was also a member of Presumpscot Masonic Lodge No. 127 for over 50 years. As a member of Kora Shrine, he organized free trips for Gray students to the Shrine Circus for many years and accompanied his brother, Kenneth, taking patients from southern Maine to the Shriners Hospital in Boston. As a member of the Gray Congregational Church, he served many years as a deacon.

He is survived by his brother, Robert and wife, Cora; and his sisters, Yvonne Wilkinson and Beverly Blake. He is also survived by his three daughters, Carol West and husband, John, Catherine Grannell and husband, Steven, and Lorene Skilling. In addition, he leaves five grandchildren, J. Adam West and Benjamin, Molly, Jason and Matthew Grannell and wife, Gigi; his great-grandchildren, Tori, Beth and Sophie; and many nieces and nephews will grieve his passing, as well.

Besides his parents and wives, Carlton was predeceased by his brothers, Albert and Kenneth.