1920 – 2017

SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. — Clarence “Dee” DeOrsey, 96, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 8, at Sun City Center, Fla.

He was born March 2, 1920, at Northbridge, Mass., the son of Victor and Melina Brunelle DeOrsey. He graduated from Northbridge High School then Babson College in 1940. He married Leora Booth in Lewiston on July 29, 1944. In 1982, they retired to Sun City Center where both continued to be active golfing and playing bridge.

Dee worked briefly for B. Peck Department store, then for W.T. Grant in Portland managing their phonograph record department. In 1946, he opened The Record Shop at 199 Lisbon St., Lewiston, which became DeOrsey’s at 23 Lisbon St., well-remembered from a time when the Hit Parade was important and Lisbon Street was a shopping mecca for all of Central Maine. His friendly grin welcomed anyone looking for big-band music to teenagers listening to rock ‘n’ roll. He was very active with the Chamber of Commerce as well as Kiwanis, the YMCA and Martindale County Club.

He is survived by his son, Stan, and his wife, Joan, of Monmouth and Topsham; a grandson, Michael, and his wife, Erin, of Concord, Mass.; and a great-grandson, Eliot.

He was predeceased by his wife in 2012 and by his three brothers and one sister.

Messages of condolences may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.