WATERVILLE – Dickie took his last breath on May 9, 2025, after a long and heroic battle with severe PTSD, COPD and Emphysema. Two of his daughters were by his side as well as the amazing hospice staff at Oak Grove Center.

Dickie was the younger of two children born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to Robert M. and May G. Thorndike Furfey on Oct. 2, 1948. When he was young, the family moved to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where Dickie learned to dive off the rocks into Lake Winnipesaukee by the age of three. By age eight, the family moved to Hyannis, Massachusetts and Dickie spent endless hours at Sea Street Beach. In addition to his love of the beach, Dickie cared for every living creature that he came into contact with. If he found sick or wounded animals, from birds to raccoons to stray cats and dogs, he would bring them home and nurse them back to health. He even had “pet” toads and any number of other reptiles in need. One dog that he spoke often about was his black lab, Spooky.

As Dickie reached his rebellious teens, he grew his hair out, smoked cigarettes, drove fast cars, tormented his sister, formed a band in which he played guitar and was the lead singer, and he dated lots of pretty girls. He dropped out of high school because he found it boring and he claimed that it prohibited his creative growth. He also said that he was smarter than all of the teachers and he didn’t want to waste his time. Dickie spent his time travelling and couch surfing, playing and listening to music, and living the true hippie life.

In 1968 Dickie was drafted into the military and he was deployed to Vietnam as an Army Combat Engineer Demoman. He was a part of Company C of the 65th Combat Engineer Battalion. While clearing mines, Dickie was wounded in action when one went off three feet behind him, sending him 20-feet in the air and knocking him out. When he awoke, he was in the hospital, wounded physically and mentally for life. He earned a Purple Heart, three Overseas Bars, an Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and a National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1974 and he was eventually awarded 100-percent disability as a result of his combat experience.

Forever changed after his time in combat in Vietnam, Dickie had extreme trouble with acclimating to civilian life and he could never get back to “normal.” Upon his return to the states, he spent time drifting – often homeless – from coast to coast and back. He found drugs and alcohol to deal with life and the untreated PTSD symptoms. He got married and divorced twice and then separated from his third wife by 1990 during which time he took on the massive responsibility of becoming “dad” to her three girls. He did the best he could for his daughters, making sure their basic needs were met. It was never easy, but he was always there. He taught by example – responsibility, resiliency, tenacity, work ethic, love, acceptance, and so much more.

Dickie had two very distinct sides: 1. Naturally, he was kind, fun loving, adventurous, highly intelligent, and extremely eccentric and creative. 2. Mental illness plagued him for most of his life, especially after he returned home from Vietnam. He spent considerable time in Togus and he had anger that was hard for him to control. Dickie tried to live as a free spirited, pot smoking hippie and, for the most part, he was successful. He enjoyed music. Grateful Dead, Gordon Lightfoot, and Emmy Lou Harris were among his favorites. He loved British comedy, Star Trek, and Dr Who. He loved getting tattoos, singing and playing guitar. He grew his own marijuana and mushrooms and brewed his own beer – always looking for the perfect escape from reality. He was an avid animal lover. He owned alpacas, rabbits, goats and ferrets as well as cats and dogs. Most, if not all of his animals were rescue animals.

Dickie loved to create art, usually using paint and he was a creative cook, especially with chicken dishes and muffins. He tinkered with electronics, sometimes improving them, more times not. He lost only a couple of sections of his fingers in the process. He personalized every vehicle he owned, making them actual pieces of art and more functional for no one but himself. Dickie was passionate about veteran’s rights and treatment. He never hesitated to write to legislators, senators, and the editors of various newspapers. He also decorated his vehicles with political signs.

Dickie claimed to be an atheist, but he actually had an extremely strained relationship with ‘god’. He strongly disagreed with any type of organized religion, but he acknowledged a higher power that can create great havoc in the world.

Dickie is survived and eternally loved by his daughters Caulie Burns, Melissa Martin and her wife Tiffany, and Marietta Wheeler and her husband Greg; his grandchildren Heather, Steven, Addison, Braydon, Allison, Jayme, and Michael; his great granddaughters Chloe and Lydia; his sister Jane Furfey; his cousin George “Tug” Lemery and his partner Louise; his nieces Cathy Hegedus and her husband Bill, and Chris Helder and her husband John; his great nephews Michael and his wife Aly, and Dylan; his great nieces Britney and Meranda; and his great great nephews and niece Austin, Ian, Kane, Wyatt, and Norah May.

There will be a military memorial service at 10 a.m on June 25, 2025, at the new Maine Veterans Cemetery, 163 Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. All are welcome to attend.

Later this summer, there will be a private service when Dickie’s family spreads his ashes in Hyannis, Massachusetts. His preference would be his home planet, Zebar…but he was the only being with knowledge of where that is…

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society.