1943 – 2015

AUBURN — Brian Keith Mello, 71, of Poland, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, at the Hospice House in Auburn.

He was born in Lewiston at Central Maine General on July 3, 1943, a son of the late Frank and Bernice (Lewis) Mello. He grew up in the Freeport area and attended local schools there. He was a graduate of Freeport High School, Class of 1961. After high school, he married Annette Morin and the two of them had three children, Tracy, Bruce and Jason. The two were married for 14 years. Brian later married Lois Snowe Mello on Sept. 15, 1990, in Auburn and the two resided in Poland. Brian was active in the Androscoggin County Republicans. He served as Republican State Committeeman for Androscoggin County Republicans on the State Republican Committee. He also served as Treasurer for the Snowe Mello campaigns for State Representative and State Senate.

Brian had many hobbies. In younger years, he enjoyed fishing and when his children were small he would take them fishing at Harraseeket Bay and the many ponds and streams in Freeport. He was an avid reader of Native American stories and enjoyed the Popular Mechanics magazine. He had a passion for writing children’s stories, one of which was published in a children’s magazine. He and his wife Lois enjoyed traveling to Egypt, England, Scotland, Wales, San Francisco, Florida and the beautiful Azores. He enjoyed gardening and was a jack-of-all-trades. Brian had a great sense of humor and dry wit. Along with the love for his children and wife of 25 years, he treasured the family dogs, Kiwi, Cassie, Bonnie Fess and Hilee Mae; and the many cats he had over the years. Brian also enjoyed finding the birds in the back yard and the many varieties that came to the house. Brian had several jobs. Those he enjoyed the most were Dye Electric, being with the Job Corps at Poland Spring Inn, General Electric where he worked for over 25 years and his latest at Southern Maine Auto Auction.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lois Snowe Mello, of Poland; his children, Tracy Smith and her husband, Jay, of Otisfield, Bruce and his, Donna, of Millinocket and Jason and his wife, Annmarie, of Auburn; and a brother, Arthur Mello of Bath. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Patric Walton and husband, Micro Soffritti, Natalee, Brianna and Michaela Smith, Kurtis, Lauren Taylor and Tanner Mello; as well as his great-grandchildren, Gryphen Hodson, Naim, Noa and Gael Soffritti, and Raven Schoonmaker.

He is predeceased by his brothers, Robert, Phillip, Frank and Richard; his sisters, Bernice Williams and Dorothy Jefferson; and a granddaughter, Ashley Rachel Walton.

The family wishes to thank all the friends and family who have spent much time through prayers and expressions of good will during this difficult time. They would also like to give thanks to the staff nurses and doctors at both Beacon and Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice as well as Clover Health Care. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

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