Earlon Ruel Eugley, 77, of Okeechobee, Fla., passed away suddenly Jan. 23. Born Oct. 27, 1938 in Waldoboro, he was the eldest son of Ruel A. and Elsie M. (Levenseler) Eugley.
Earlon (Earl) was born and raised in Waldoboro and graduated from Waldoboro High School in 1956. Growing up in the area, he was an avid sportsman – hunting, trapping, clamming, worm digging and fishing.
He enlisted into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1957 and rose to the rank of a Chief Boatswain Mate and retired in 1977. He was stationed in Rockland for many years and before retiring was stationed in Miami, Fla.
Living in Thomaston in the 1960s he smoked alewives along with his father, who took over and continued the tradition in Waldoboro. He was also one of the original storage unit buyers, of which he bought thousands and couldn’t resist an auction. After retirement from the Coast Guard, he went swordfishing for several years on his boat the Tracy C in the Florida waters.
His ultimate lifetime passion was his pacing and trotting race horses. He trained and drove them at the many country fairs and race tracks up and down the East Coast. He was well known at the Maine State Fairs and Pompano Park in Florida.
He is predeceased by his parents; and brother, Allen M. Eugley.
He is survived by his son, Mark Allen of Maine and Florida; daughters, Lee Ann Figueroa and husband Carlos, and Beth Alaine Aroyo-Mirowsky and husband Nicholas, all of Florida; three granddaughters; and one great-grandson, all of Florida and Texas; and sisters, Nancy A. Smith of Thomaston and Dawn E. Wright of Nobleboro.
A private family ceremony will be held at a later date.
A memorial race will be held at the Windsor Fair in September 2016.
Any donations can be sent to Waldoboro Food Pantry, PO Box 692, Waldoboro, ME 04572.
Okeechobee Funeral Services handled the cremation.
