ST. GEORGE — Everett Leroy Baum, Jr., 94, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 22, 2021, holding the hand of his beloved wife of 73 years, Arlene, at the Sussman House in Rockport.

Everett was born in Rockland, Maine on June 25, 1927, the son of Everett L. Baum, Sr. and Elizabeth Crockett Baum. He grew up in Clark Island and went to local schools until “Pop” went to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during WWII with Everett graduating from Traip Academy in Kittery in 1945. He was drafted in the Navy and served until the end of war.

Returning to the Rockland area, he started lobstering for Woodbury Post on Metinic Island. He met Arlene Kennedy roller skating in Rockland in 1947 and they eloped on August 4, 1948. They rented in Rockland until he and Pop built the house on Ingraham’s Hill in Owls Head. He and Arlene then bought the house, land and oceanfront from Sam and Evelyn Archer in Wheeler’s Bay, St. George, in 1958 where he lived and worked until May of this year. He retired from fishing when he was 88 years old.

Everett loved to travel, taking the family to Florida in 1962 prior to this being a cool thing to do. People we knew didn’t travel hardly out of state let alone drive to Florida. Larry was in a playpen in the back seat with Arlene passing bologna sandwiches back to Linda and Barbara. Both Everett and Arlene also loved the Daytona area and attended the Daytona 250 along with many hours spent on Daytona Beach. At that time we could drive and park the car on the beach with easy access to our chairs, lunch, towels, etc. after playing in the cold ocean waves.

During shedder season, in July, we would load up the Coleman camper Everett purchased from Sulo Gronros, Rockland Boat, and each summer for years we would head to various parts of Canada, often with friends, the Millers and/or the Rackliff’s traveling miles and miles of the Canadian coast.

Much like all of the men from the Baum family, they all shared a love for their vehicles. Everett was a Dodge, Plymouth or Chrysler man. No other make would do and most often the vehicle was red. He absolutely loved his Chrysler 200 and so missed being able to drive it himself.

Starting in the late 70s, Everett and Arlene wintered in Florida, at first hauling a camper. The first spring they came back to Maine, Everett said if he was going back again next winter, he was going to learn to dance, so they took dance lessons from Mary Ann Carey. Seeing Arlene and Everett glide around the dance floor made people smile. When it began to be difficult to drag an RV, they purchased a small trailer with a Florida room in Zephyrhills extending their friendships and entertainment in Florida.

While they enjoyed getting out of Maine and the snow during the winter months, in the early 70s they began seasonal summer camping at Mic Mac Campground in Union rather than traveling to Canada, and then later moved to Sennebec Lake Campground in Appleton where they absolutely loved their weekends during the summer with the two of them sitting on the deck, Everett playing with the fire or feeding the chipmunks and watching everyone go by. From their premium spot at the campground (per Everett) they could see all of the action. They looked over at the Lodge and could see everyone coming or going. Of course, cruising around on their golf cart talking with folks throughout the campground was one of the highlights of the weekend. But action at the lodge of any sort, whether a breakfast, bingo, dance, party, etc. was so enjoyed by both of them.

Everett is survived by his wife, Arlene Kennedy Baum; his three children: Linda Webster, Barbara Hanson (Stanwood), and Larry Baum (Maria); his grandchildren: Brandy Schofield (Isaac), Meaghan Clapp, Michael Webster, Samantha Beers (Nick), Jennifer Hatch (Taylor), Morgan DiBenedetti (Thomas, Sr.), Ryker Baum; his great grandchildren: Tucker Clapp; Lila Beers; Addilynn and Eloise Hatch; Thomas, Jr., Lincoln, Brooklynn and Skyler DiBenedetti.

He is also survived by his late half-brother, Richard Baum’s son, Ellis Baum (Aubrey) and family; first cousins, Marilyn “Kate” Wicks, Thomas Baum, Sr., Dorothy Rouse and Joseph Baum and families, as well as Kennedy family nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Cushing Homestead for their understanding and patience during Everett’s stay.

A graveside service will be held Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, at 11 a.m., at North Parish Cemetery, Wileys Corner, St. George.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. George Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Service, P. O. Box 249, Tenants Harbor, ME 04860.

To share a memory or condolence with Everett’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.