Category: Obituary: L

The Reverend Kenneth LaFleur, gifted preacher, pastor, and parish minister, talented musician and teacher of history, died in the care of Gosnell Hospice in Scarborough, Maine, on 5 December 2015, aged 81.

The Rev. Mr. LaFleur earned particular praise for his thirteen-year healing pastorate at First Parish Church (the “Old Ship Church”) in Hingham (Mass). The Rev. Ken Read-Brown, Old Ship Church’s current minister (as of 2017), spoke of his predecessor’s tenure there as a time of healing and strengthening for our congregation, “[He was] one of the finest preachers in our or any denomination, and even more importantly, he was a fine, good, and gentle man.“

Kenneth Gordon LaFleur was born in Waterville, Maine, on 14 December 1933, son of Daniel LaFleur and Louise Pelletier LaFleur, and grandson of the Rev. Isaac LaFleur. He was valedictorian of his 1951 high-school graduating class. Musical talent and church life were significant parts of Kenneth’s young life. In his high school years, starting at age 15, he served as a church organist in Waterville, and after graduation, began his church career at age 19 with summer ministries at nearby Maine churches.

Without any formal study, Mr. LaFleur was ordained in 1954, at age 21 by the First Parish Unitarian Church (now UU) of Castine, Maine, where he served until 1958 and then again for one year in 1961. In between (1958-60) he was minister to the First Parish in Northborough, Mass. He finally received a B.A. from the University of Maine and his B.D. from Bangor Theological Seminary, both in 1961. He moved on to First Parish in Wayland, Mass (1962-69) and then to a yoked ministry with the First Universalist Churches of Norway and South Paris, Maine (1970-72), while earning an M.A from Brandeis University in 1970. In 1972 he was called to First Parish (UU) in Hingham, Mass, where he served until 1985 and was named Minister Emeritus.

In retiring back to Maine, Ken served as the organist of two nearby churches, helped found the AIDS support group of central Maine, wrote a weekly column for Waterville’s Morning Sentinel newspaper, and served as part-time minister to All Souls Universalist Church of Oakland, Maine. Although he had requested no formal memorial service, a celebration of life was held on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at the Friends Meeting House in East Vassalboro.

Ken outlived all six of his siblings. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Helen Myrick LaFleur, daughter Margaret LaFleur Asadoorian, sister-in-law Deborah Myrick Martin, several nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends. Notes of condolences may be sent to Helen LaFleur, P.O. Box 110, East Vassalboro, Maine 04935.

Doris Marie “Doe” Lockwood, 88, the widow of the Rev. Russell W. Lockwood, died November 12, 2016. She was born August 10, 1928 in Tulsa OK to James Earl McDonald and May Fern Hill. Other than a four year temporary transfer to Puerto Rico, Doe was a lifelong resident of Tulsa.

She was married twice, the first time to G.T. Minnick in 1947. Children did not arrive right away, so she worked for Mcdonald Douglas as a supervisor while her husband worked at the D-X refinery. He built a boat and they explored the local lakes in their free time. When she finally did become pregnant, she hid the fact from her employer as long as possible because it meant she would have to leave her job.

Doe had three children, born in 1956, 1957, and 1958. Although her life was very busy with three young children and a house to manage, she turned to creative outlets, writing plays, skits, and songs. She also began exploring religion, finding the Presbyterian ideals she was raised with less than satisfactory. This search led her to All Souls Unitarian Church, which had just moved into a new building and was becoming more active under the dynamic leadership of Rev. John Wolfe.

Her husband did not accompany her as she grew into a deeper involvement with the church, and church became her refuge, central to her being. She was involved in the RE program for many years, some as Director. In the early 70’s the family moved to Puerto Rico, where her husband had a temporary assignment. Doe became involved in a variety of activities there, but was not interested in other overseas assignments when that one ended, so they returned to Tulsa. With the children leaving home for college, her marriage to G.T. ended in 1976.

Doe had resumed her activities at church and met the Rev. Dr. Russell Lockwood, who was the regional representative for the Southwest Unitarian Association, at the Southwest Summer Institute. Soon, everyone recognized that he was the true love of her life. They married in 1977.

Their lives continue to evolve in this new chapter together. She gave up her work at All Souls and they became members at Hope Unitarian Church. Soon she became involved in volunteer activities there. She and Russell built a lake house where they would often gather with friends. She took road trips with her close friends, exploring new places as she had with her children when they were young.

Russell died suddenly in 1988 and Doe grieved, supported by her friends. Eventually, with time and travel and the arrival of grandchildren her depression lifted. And she resumed a volunteer commitment, serving on the UURMaPA board until a few years ago.

Doe Lockwood is remembered for her commitment to and engagement with her church and the UU movement. At one time, she compiled a list of her activities, which included dozens of General Assemblies, District Conferences, Summer Institutes, and UUA committee appointments. She led workshops at these gatherings and for congregations across the nation. But she listed as her Most Important Accomplishment the hundreds of casseroles she had prepared for the bereaved.

Throughout all these active years she most loved writing and producing skits for her churches, the UUA, and Summer Institute. And she loved singing the hymns.

A memorial service for Doe was held at Hope Unitarian church on December 10, 2016. It began with an open acknowledgement that she had often told people she didn’t want a memorial service, but taught that sometimes rules needed to be broken.

Doe is survived by her children: Brian Minnick, Lee Ann Cole, and Lorrie McLaughlin; three stepchildren, William Lockwood, Marion Lockwood, and Richard Lockwood; and five grandchildren.

Messages of condolence may be sent to Lee Ann Cole, 2224 E 5th Pl, Tulsa OK 74104 or by email to lacole527@gmail.com.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Unitarian Church, 8432 S Sheridan Road, Tulsa OK 74133, or to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, or the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

The Rev. Dr. Spencer Lavan—parish minister, scholar, seminary president, and wise, friendly, generous mentor—died on 29 September 2016 in Brunswick, Maine, at age 78, after a long decline from Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Lavan’s full and varied career led him to service in the parish, the academy, community ministry, and public agencies. Students and faculty at Meadville Lombard School during his presidency there recall how Spencer and his wife Susan “took a personal interest in each of their students, creating a hospitality that drew the entire…community together” (Lee Barker).

Spencer Lavan was born on 31 December 1937 to Fay and Peter Lavan in New York City. He earned a B.A. in English from Tufts University in 1959, a B.D. from Harvard Divinity School

in 1962, and from McGill University (Montréal) an M.A. in Islamic studies in 1965 and a Ph.D. in comparative religions in 1970.

Ordained in 1962, Spencer served parish ministries in Charleston (SC) and Montréal, and as campus minister at McGill University during his graduate studies there. Soon thereafter he turned to academic work, first at Northeastern University (MA) for two years and then Tufts University (MA) for a decade. He organized and chaired the Department of Medical Humanities at the University of New England, Maine (1982-88) and then served Meadville Lombard Theological School as president and dean for eight years (1988-96).

Dr. Lavan received three honorary degrees and authored two scholarly books. He had a passion for teaching, enjoyed traveling, classical music, sailing, and playing the piano.

Spencer is survived by his spouse of 55 years, Susan Lavan, children Jonathan, Daniel, Timothy, and Joanna, six grandchildren, and a brother, Lawrence.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to Meadville Lombard Theological School: www.meadville.edu/donate/. Notes of condolence may be sent to Susan Lavan at 11 Cascos Way, Harpswell, ME 04079.

Anna “Polly” Leonard, 91, wife of the Reverend Richard Leonard, died on May 14, 2016, at Delmar Gardens in Lawrenceville, GA, after a seven year struggle with Alzheimer’s. Rev. Leonard is Minister Emeritus of All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City.

Born September 9, 1924, in Lancaster, PA, Anna Barr Leonard was married to Stanley C. Mason during WWII. After that marriage ended in divorce, she and Richard Leonard were married in 1970. Her three children and his daughters combined in an extended family of almost 200 persons, which included their parents, their siblings and families, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, plus innumerable relatives and in-laws. Polly was the matriarch, delighting in the yearly family reunions.

She excelled in the banking world and conducted investigations for Citibank CEOs Walter Wriston and John Reed. She was a marvelous cook. Polly traveled the world together with Dick over the years, including trips to Mongolia, Nepal, Antarctica, Japan, China and Russia. At the same time, she was an active participant in church life.

Her daughter Helen Thilo Bigelow preceded her in death, but Polly is survived by her children, Kenneth Grant Mason and Martha Jean Mason, her stepdaughters, Suzanne Sykora and Elizabeth Leonard. Her winsome spirit is missed by her family, her friends, and her congregation. Her memorial service at All Souls on October 1, 2016 was attended by hundreds.

Donations in her name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington Ave., NY, NY 10075. Letters of condolence may be sent to Dick Leonard, 142 West End Ave, #15-V, New York, NY 10023-6112.