Merlin “Cush” Gray Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2020.

Merlin was born in Boothbay Harbor on June 25, 1931 to Merlin and Edna (Cheviot) Gray. Upon graduation from Boothbay Harbor High School, class of 1950, he enlisted in the Air Force. On Sept. 17, 1955 he married Faye Burnham, who had been enamored with him ever since he made ice cream cones for her as a “soda jerk” at Porter’s Drugstore. They were married for 62 years until Faye’s passing in 2017. They traveled extensively and raised two children, a daughter, Cathy and a son, Dennis (deceased).

Merlin’s post retirement was spent in Boothbay Harbor where he worked at several jobs. He was a fair weather lobsterman in Linekin Bay, road foreman for the town of Boothbay, and a contract mail carrier for the town of Southport. Being a lover of sweets, Christmas was his favorite time to deliver the mail because his many friends along the route would leave treats for him in their mailboxes. Most knew that brownies were his dessert of choice.

Like many others from “the Harbor,” the Grays became “snowbirds” migrating to Stuart and Port St. Lucie, Florida where they lived until 2012 when they finally came back home to Boothbay.
Merlin was a proud lifetime member of the Masons and belonged to Seaside Lodge #196; he also was a member of the American Legion in Boothbay Harbor, as well as a member of the Elks Lodge in Port St. Lucie.

Cush, as he was know to many, was a loving father and grandfather, an easy going man with a great sense of humor, and a people person who never hesitated to give a hug or a handshake to everyone he met. He had a sharp memory of the many good times throughout his life and shared his entertaining reminiscences with anyone who would listen. He enjoyed socializing with friends which in his younger years usually involved golf, music, cocktails and snacks. Lots of snacks!

Over the past few years he spent happy hours playing cribbage and socializing at the Community Center and he especially liked gathering with friends and relatives at the various church luncheons. Last October Merlin was beyond thrilled to be able to go with Honor Flight Maine to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C.

Survivors include his daughter, Cathy and her husband Timothy Hodgdon; grandson, Kyle Hodgdon of Los Angeles, California; granddaughter, Audrey Hodgdon and her husband Caleb Easton of Boothbay; brother-in-law, Louis Burnham Jr., sister-in-law, Sheila Sears; and many nieces and nephews. Special friend, Barbara McGlaufin, brought him much appreciated companionship and made his last years brighter.

A funeral service will be held at the American Legion Hall at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.

For those who wish, donations may be made to the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 280, Boothbay, ME 04537, American Legion Post #36, P.O. Box 874, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, or The Community Center, P.O. Box 335, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com