OWLS HEAD — Douglas William Crute, 94, died peacefully, Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Quarry Hill in Camden.

Born August 27, 1927 in Cushing, he was the son of Frank, Sr and Ina Creamer Crute. He was educated locally attending both Cushing Schools and Thomaston High School. After leaving Cushing and setting out into the world, he settled in California where he married and had two sons, Doug, Jr and Steve.

In 1976 he married Virginia Saastamoinen from Thomaston. He acquired 2 step-daughters, Kristi and Karyl. Together he and Virginia moved to Richmond, California where they lived until Doug retired in 1990. Following retirement, the couple returned to their beloved Maine.

As a young man, Doug began his long maritime career, attending Maritime Training School in Sheepshead Bay, New York in 1944. Over the years he sailed many lines including American Hawaiian, Military Sea Coastwise Line Transportation, Pacific Far East Line, Standard Oil to name a few. From 1944 through 1966 he sailed for the SUP (Sailors Union of the Pacific) and Pacific Maritime Association.

Called up to active duty, Doug served from 1954 to 1956 as a PFC in the Army. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and finished his time at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Returning to civilian service, he worked for over twenty years for Crowley Maritime. At that time he held several positions for the Inland Boatman’s Union (IBU), including Business Agent and Regional Director. Retiring to Maine, Doug continued his work on the water, filling in whenever he could for the Maine State Ferry Service as a deck hand and able bodied seaman. Doug loved to travel and had many stories to tell. He has visited every state in the US and traveled around the world several times.

One of his greatest stories was at the age of 18, he survived a ship wreck. He told of the Army transport ship that was swept off course in a storm and struck a pinnacle of rock off a small island east of Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians. The seas washed off most of the vessel’s rafts and life boats. The two lifeboats that were still there were loaded with 35 men. The remaining 18 crewmen including Doug remained in the wheelhouse. Due to the efforts of the Army Transport and a Coast Guard vessel, all members of the crew were saved, including everyone in the two life boats.

Always active in the communities in which he lived, Doug has been a member of the Rockland Lodge of Elks, Apostle of the Sea Men’s Group in San Francisco, the Masons in San Francisco, Kora Temple in Lewiston, Thomaston American Legion and the Scottish Rites.

Predeceased by his parents Frank, Sr and Ina Crute; four brothers, Kenneth Crute, Harvey Crute, Frank Crute, Jr, Donald Crute; one sister, Dorothy Snapp; his wife, Virginia Saastamoinen Crute; and his step-daughter Kristi Dugas; Douglas is survived by his sons, Douglas Crute, Jr of California and Steven Crute of Nevada; his sister, Ramona Ryckman of Cushing; step-daughter Karyl Breen and her husband Daniel of Thomaston; grandsons, Matthew Breen and his wife Elizabeth of South Thomaston; Adam Dugas of Rockport; granddaughter, Katherine Breen of Thomaston; and four great-grandchildren, Bailey, Olivia and Tyler Breen of South Thomaston and Tiernan Dugas of South Thomaston.

A graveside celebration of life will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021, at 1 p.m., at Village Cemetery, Erin Street, Thomaston.

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

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