John Mason Russell

JOHN M. RUSSELL

WHITEFIELD, NH -- John Mason Russell, 91, previously of Rangeley, Maine, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, May 27, at The Morrison Center in Whitefield, NH. John was born Dec 3 1923 in Rangeley, the son of A. Mason and Eugenie Eseley Russell. He attended Rangeley schools and graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Tennessee.

He enlisted at age 17 in the United States Marine Corps and was a combat engineer in the Fourth Marine Division during World War II. John saw action on Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima and was wounded twice, the last time on Iwo Jima where he was shot while closing one of the many caves on the island. John always said that he was glad he was a Maine boy and had grown up around guns and knew how to handle them. In addition to two purple hearts John was awarded the bronze star medal for "heroic service…while serving as a demolitions man…on Iwo Jima". John maintained friendships through the years with other Marines with whom he had served and was a proud member of Maine's Downeast Chapter of the Fourth Marine Division Association (WWII).

After the war, John married Mary Lou Brownell of Pawtucket, RI, who passed away in 1999. He graduated from Wentworth Institute in Boston, after which the couple returned to Rangeley to help run Russell's Motor Camps, a business begun in the 1920s by his grandfather, J.A. Russell. Over the years until they retired in 1989, John and Mary Lou welcomed hundreds of families to the Rangeley area, many of whom returned year after year. John loved to hunt and fish and share his stories and expertise with his extended family and friends. He was also involved with the family's hardware business, J.A. Russell & Co, and the Rangeley Water Company. Over the years, he was a member of Rangeley's Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, the Kemankeag Masonic Lodge #213, the Rangeley Lakes Post 120 of the American Legion, and the Kennebago Lake Camp Owners Association, among others. After his wife died, John enjoyed a number of years living in Freeport ME and Franconia NH.

Predeceased by his wife, his parents and a sister, Adelaide Russell McGorrill, John is survived by his daughter, Janet Theriault and her husband Ed of Freeport; daughter Lois Peraino and husband Robert of Franconia; daughter Connie Russell and partner Jim Gorman of Rangeley, and grandchildren Amy Theriault of Albany, NY; Matt Theriault of Durham ME; Jennifer Collins Kushawaha and husband Rishi of Naples, FL; Jeff Collins and wife Evelyn of Littleton, NH and one great-granddaughter, Lillian Grace Collins. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Jennison and her husband Ted, of Tucson AZ and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 19th at 11 am, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 2614 Main Street, in Rangeley. Arrangements are under the direction of the Pillsbury Phaneuf Funeral Home, Littleton NH. Friends are invited to sign the family guest book and share their memories and condolences online at www.pillsburyphaneuf.com.

Those wishing to do so may consider a donation to the Good Shepherd Church, PO Box 156, 2614 Main St., Rangeley ME 04970 or to the Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum, PO Box 521, Rangeley ME 04970.