AUGUSTA – “He is dead.” But now, in Christ, alive forevermore!

Ernest Gregory DeRaps, age 95 years, 5 months, 12 days, born 22 January 1928, in Palmyra, Maine, the youngest of 14 children of the late Joseph Edward and Maude Almonza [Mathieu] DeRaps, died 04 July, 2023.

He attended the one-room Carr Grammar School in Pittsfield, and received his high school diploma from Maine Central Institute.

Ernest was highly involved in Scouting from the time he joined Boy Scout Troop 128 of Pittsfield, Maine. He progressed from Patrol Leader of the Beaver Patrol, to Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster – he was awarded his Life Scout rank on 06 June, 1945 – but was kept from attaining Eagle Scout rank (though he had earned 17 of the 21 merit badges required for Eagle Scout) due to enlistment into the U.S. Navy.

As an adult, he was Explorer Advisor for Post 212, Waterville, Maine; Scoutmaster of Troop 333, Washington, D.C., Troop 235 in Stockton Springs, Maine, and Troop 323, Hollis-Buxton, Maine area; and for Troop 647 Hallowell: Institutional Representative, Neighborhood Commissioner, Kennebec District Commissioner, Committeeman and Committee Chairman for the local troop and cub pack.

He joined the Navy in February of 1946, entered Basic Training in Bainbridge, Md, Aviation Basics in Pensacola, Fla., and Aerial Photography in San Diego, Calif. Due to medical reasons, he was honorably discharged in December, 1947, and entered the Naval Reserves.

In January of 1951 he married Pauline Eva Fitzgerald of Belfast, Maine, eventually having 6 children (she wanted 2, he wanted 4, so they compromised and had 6!) and with whom he moved to Washington, D.C. in the Spring of 1952 where he held the position of the only photographer at the National Headquarters of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (now known as the IRS). While here he taught photography to federal agents, holding the position until President Eisenhower decided to reduce the federal work force in late summer of 1954.

Upon returning to Maine, Ernie became the photographer and cameraman for WLBZ Channel 2 in Bangor, Maine.

In October of 1955, he joined the United States Coast Guard. His assignments included: C.G. Base, Rockland, Maine, Monhegan Island Lighthouse [est. 1824], Fort Point Lighthouse (est. 1835, Stockton Springs, Maine), Heron Neck Lighthouse [Green’s Island, est. 1854, near Vinalhaven), and Brown’s Head Lighthouse (est. 1831, Vinalhaven Island, Maine).

On 01 December, 1962, he was re-assigned to Weather Cutter duty out of the South Portland, Maine Coast Guard Base and was an Engineman on the Coos Bay, 2 years later on the Barataria [second in command, Engine room].

In September, 1965, he was given Port Security duties at the USCG base. As Captain of the Port he was responsible for the safety and security of the ships, harbor, docks, shipping & docking facilities, warehouses, oil terminals (dockside), especially to ensure safe practices were followed during handling of cargo.

Ernie was also a Defensive Driving Instructor for the National Safety Council, federal employees, general public, and students at the Gov. Baxter School for the Deaf.

In March of 1968, he went back to Weather Cutter duty on the USCG Cutter Castle Rock, until he received his discharge in July, 1969 (official discharge papers dated July, 1974).

On 18 August, 1969, Ernie began a new career working for the great State of Maine, Parks & Recreation Dept., initially as Navigational Aids Foreman, placing buoys in Maine lakes in a new program where he devised a buoy system, still used today, similar to the federal navigational aids used in coastal and federal waters.

In June of 1975, he transferred to become Snowmobile Coordinator, working with clubs building trails, bridges, etc. and traveling the State informing snowmobilers of new laws, equipment, and such, until June, 1980, when he became a Pesticide Inspector for the EPA/State of Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources, retiring from State of Maine employment at the age of 72 on 01/01/01.

After retiring from the USCG, and the State of Maine, and on a trip to Canada with family, Ernie saw a strange new building material being used called ICF’s (Insulating Concrete Form). He decided to build his own retirement home of the material and see how it worked. Upon completing the home, and seeing that he really liked the product/process, he helped build another home for his middle son, and with these experiences under his belt, went into business with son and son-in-law building ICF structures until the age of 80 when his patient wife convinced him to “finally retire” and he then (to keep out of her hair somewhat) painted all 65 Maine Lighthouses, among other subjects, and began showing his artwork and doing Lighthouse slide shows all over the state, as well as writing along with his wife, their Lighthouse memoirs, eventually publishing them in book form (it is called “Lighthouse Keeping”, FogHornPublishing.com) and putting a copy, free of charge, in as many public school libraries as possible (it is a great read if you can find yourself a copy!).

He was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church of Hallowell, , and later, Saint Ambrose Roman Catholic Church of Richmond, as well as Eucharistic Minister, and was a 3rd & 4th-Degree in the Knights of Columbus.

He enjoyed membership in the Maine Genealogical Society (wrote a family genealogical newsletter for 20 years +/-), was past President of Senior Spectrum, President of Bambahook Snow Sports Snowmobile Club, Life Member of the National Rifle Association, and member of the Maine State Employees Association. He proudly served as Commander of American Legion Post# 6, Hallowell; among many other accomplishments and had very many friends and acquaintances (how do you sum up a life so well lived?).

I have come to the end of the road,

the LORD has taken me.

You need not weep

for me anymore,

Why cry for a

soul set free?

Miss me a little –

but not too long,

and NOT with your head held low.

Remember the Joy of the Love we shared,

Miss me, but let me go.

This is a journey we ALL must take,

and we all must go alone.

This is part of

The Master’s plan,

now Heaven is my home.

When you’re feeling lonely and sick of heart,

go to the friends we know,

and bury your sorrow in doing good deeds.

Miss me – but let me go!

Ernest G. DeRaps
(Adapted from Christine Georgina Rossetti’s “Let Me Go”)

Our heartfelt thanks to all the care givers at Coastal Shores and Maine Veterans Home for caring for Ernie!

A Christian funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on 18 July, 2023 at St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball St., Richmond, Maine 04357.

In lieu of flowers,

please send donations to:

American Legion Post 6

114 2nd St.

Hallowell, ME 04347

Attn: Phil Lindley, Treasurer

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