Richard “Dick” Plourde

SKOWHEGAN – Richard “Dick” Plourde, 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, while napping at his home.

Dick was born in Caribou, Maine to Leon and Catherine (Jacques) Plourde. At an early age, he moved with his family to Skowhegan, where he resided until his passing. Dick was the middle child of five and was known for his highly active and often mischievous personality. His mother found him at the age of two in the center of the dinner table, helping himself to her Thanksgiving meal. Dick described a time when he was 5 years old and slipped past a babysitter to find his way to his parents in downtown Skowhegan. Elementary school was not his favorite place, and his sister Janet recalls the nuns sending her home to fetch her older brother and bring him to the classroom.

In 1953, Dick spotted a beautiful young lady (Vergie) walking by the Catholic School. In his words, “The first time I saw her, I knew she was the one.” In 1957, they married, and by 1966, they had five children. Dick worked multiple jobs to support his family often coming home for dinner and leaving shortly thereafter to work another job. In 1968, following a car accident where he was seriously injured, an insurance payment allowed him to put a small deposit on a convenient store coincidently named “Dick’s Market”. Together, Dick and Vergie grew the business and expanded it by building a larger store just two blocks further up the street. The sign on the building claimed, “Open 8 Days a Week” because Dick would say, “we even work our day off.” Throughout their forty years in business, they employed numerous family, friends, and community members. To this day, people in town still tell the Plourde family that they miss the store; many have entertaining stories anchored at Dick’s Market to share.

Dick was an active member of the Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge during the seventies and eighties and served a stint as the Exalted Ruler overseeing the lodge through a major renovation. His membership in the Elks allowed him and Vergie to travel to various conventions throughout Maine and other parts of the United States.

Dick loved sports. As a young man, he played several sports and was a natural athlete with a competitive nature. Throughout his life, he loved to watch all types of sports, especially when his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were playing. He was a lifelong fan of Notre Dame College football, who frequently wore clothing and jackets that celebrated his favorite team. When Notre Dame was playing, Dick was glued to the TV often watching with his son, Eric. He would fidget and shout throughout the game because, as he would say, “I feel like I’m playing with them!”

After the children left home, Dick and Vergie traveled to Florida for more than 20 years, eventually buying a small home and enjoying the winters in Newport Richey. They invited family and friends to visit and made new friends along the way. They loved their southern home and this special time in their lives when they could relax and enjoy a break from the many years of hard work and responsibilities. It was in Florida that they found their cherished puppy named Dusty. He became their little baby boy for fifteen years.

Dick had strong convictions, and sometimes he could be overly suspicious of people. He was fiercely protective of his family and the life they had built. At the same time, he could be very generous and loving, and if you were part of his inner circle, you were part of his family as well. Vergie described him best by saying “when he has something in his mind, there is the right way, the wrong way, and there’s Dick’s way.”

Dick’s love for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was immeasurable. Family was everything to both Dick and Vergie and they readily opened their home for Christmas Eves, parties, and long summer days by the pool. His children and grandchildren take away memories that will last a lifetime.

Ultimately, Dick’s heart and soul belonged to his bride Vergie and her passing just 5 months prior left him devastated. Not a day went by without him asking when she might miraculously come home or when he would go to be with her. He did his best to go through the motions of life, but there was no life without her. Dick’s family feel certain that Vergie played a part in preparing Dick for his journey back to her and the peacefulness of his death. “Mom & Dad…While we find comfort in your reunion, we will forever miss you both. And we will always Love You More.”

Dick was predeceased by his wife Vergie; his daughters Diane Godin and Amy Bowman; his parents Leon and Catherine Plourde; and his siblings Leon (Charlene) Plourde, Alva Plourde, and Bryant Plourde.

Dick is survived by his son and devoted care provider, Eric Plourde, his daughters Jolene Plourde and Lisa (Brent) Duguay, his daughter-in-law Donna Plourde and sons-in-law Larry Godin and Bill Bowman; his sister Janet (Jim) McGowan, and sister in-law Jeannine Plourde.

Pérère will be dearly missed by his grandchildren, Erin (Brian) McAllister, Terri (Darick) Herald, Joshua Plourde, Stacy Bowman, Katie Godin, Jackie (Patrick) McDonough, Ashley Bowman, Lauren (Brandan) Beane, Adam (Kaylee) Bowman; and 16 great-grandchildren, Owen, Harry, David, Charlotte, Josie, Everly, Abel, Mason, Kenzie, Leah, Hallie, Ronan, Eli, Laney, Gracelynn and Silas.

A service celebrating Dick’s life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 1 p.m. under the direction of Somerset Valley Remembrance Center at 19 Washburn Lane in Skowhegan.

Please visit Dick’s memorial page at https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/richard-plourde-2025 where condolences, photos, and special memories may be shared.

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made to:

the Somerset Humane Society

PO Box 453

Skowhegan, ME 04976

in memory of

Richard Plourde