Ralph ‘Red’ Demmons, Jr., obituary

Tue, 08/29/2017 - 1:00pm

WARREN - Ralph ‘Red’ Demmons, Jr., 83, went to be with the Lord and reunite with his wife, Jennie, August 23, 2017.

Born in Rockland on December 17, 1933, he was the son of Ralph and Mary Coffill Demmons, Sr.

On July 30th, 1955, Ralph married his high school sweetheart, Jennie L. Sukeforth, and later had four children together. He had a love for many sports, especially basketball, baseball, football and later on hockey. Ralph was an all-star basketball player all through high school and even played semi-pro baseball from 1949 to 1953. He coached Little League in the 1950s. He loved to take his sons and great-grandsons to sporting events or watch them play ball or hockey. 

Ralph served in the US Air Force from 1953 to 1960. He and his family lived in Ft. Worth, Texas, for two years and he was stationed in Limestone for five years.

Ralph umpired baseball for 40 years and was known as ‘The Blind Umpire.’

His work career consisted of Rockland Produce for five years, Bonnar Vawder for 10 years and Van Baalens for 26 years, from which he retired.

In his spare time he was a member of the American Legion, Masons, Shriners, Elks Lodge, and many Grange halls. 

Other than his parents, Ralph is predeceased by his wife, Jennie Demmons; sisters, Shirley Fish, Leona Sawyer and brother, Donald Demmons, Sr. 

He is survived by sisters, Mary McCluskey, of Thomaston, Sylvia Fowles, of South Thomaston; children, Gary Demmons and companion Deborah Burhnam, of Waldoboro, Robert Demmons, of Warren, Phyllis Davis and husband, George, of Warren, Linda Proulx and husband David, of Lewiston; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great-great-grandchildren on the way. He also will be missed by his Chihuahuas, Pedro and Cocoa.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 at Seaview Cemetery, Rockport (accessible from Chestnut Street in Camden). A celebration of life will be held at the Owls Head Community Building following the service.

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


To share a memory or condolence with the Demmons family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.