Vernal Guy Daigle

Obituary:

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/75672.html

VERNAL GUY DAIGLE

BRADENTON, Fla., FORT KENT and BANGOR - Vernal Guy Daigle, 64, life partner of 26 years to Douglas Whitney, died Jan. 29, 2007, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, after a cardiac arrest while at his home. He was born Sept. 1, 1942, in Fort Kent, the son of Alcide and Gertrude Daigle of Fort Kent. Vernal graduated from Fort Kent High School in 1960 and afterward, attended Hanson's Barber School, Lewiston. He was employed as a barber for several years in Fort Kent, until he decided to go back to school in Holliston, Mass., where he graduated with an associate degree in allied health. He was employed as a respiratory technician at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, and then for three years at the University of Maine, as a research technician in the science labs. He then began working as a mental health counselor at Bangor Mental Health Institute, until his retirement in 1985. Vernal was known for his sense of humor and his enjoyment of talking with friends and family throughout his life. He had a gift of being able to play the piano, guitar and harmonica, without ever having had lessons. He loved animals, especially his cats, the surviving one whom he had named after his father. He will be remembered for his hard work and perfectionism, especially for taking care of his home, whether it was painting their family homestead in Fort Kent or his former home on Kenduskeag Avenue, Bangor, where he spent many hours grooming the lawns, for which he and Douglas were awarded the Best of Show in the Keep Bangor Beautiful Garden Contest two years in a row. For the last five years of his life, he meticulously maintained the interior of their home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. He loved living in Florida and enjoyed the warm weather and riding his bike, swimming and walking. He was known to everyone in the neighborhood and introduced himself the first day he arrived in Florida to the managers and employees of his favorite grocery stores, which he visited almost daily. He would often come home with fresh Maine lobster, one of his favorite foods. He visited family in Fort Kent at least once every year and especially enjoyed his trip there in July 2006, when the Daigle family had their reunion. He loved to visit Washington, D.C., and toured the White House so many times that he had it memorized. His other favorite places, besides those in Maine, were Quebec City, Montreal, Colorado, California and the beaches along the Gulf Coast of Florida. He will be sadly missed by his partner, and is survived by his sister, Violet Daigle; and his brothers, Sherman and his wife, Necia, Laurel and his wife, Priscilla, of Fort Kent; his brother, Elroy and his wife, Alphena, of Frenchville; his sister, Bernadette of Eagle Lake; his twin sisters, Wilma and Velma and her husband, Raymond, of Connecticut; his sister, Juliette and her husband, John, of Colorado; and his sister, Ramona of Pensacola, Fla. He is also survived by a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends. He desired to be buried in Florida, where he would always be warm. A private memorial service with the burial after will be held at Palms Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Sarasota, Fla. Contributions in Vernal's memory may be made to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1179, Bradenton, FL 34206.