CUSHING — Karl Sherman Crute, Sr. died Tuesday, December 9, 2025 in Portland, Maine. He was born July 24, 1941 in Friendship, Maine, the son of Donald Karl and Shirley Merle Prior Crute. He grew up in Friendship and Cushing, and graduated from Waldoboro High School, class of 1959.

Karl lived life to the fullest in both work and play. He enjoyed hunting, going to camp at East Kennebago Mountain in Langtown, snowmobiling, motorcycling, skiing, Nascar and travel. Karl and Laraine traveled extensively throughout the United States (often on the Harley) and "across the pond" to Europe. He enjoyed telling of the time crossing the Rockies on the Harley, on snow covered roads.

Karl loved to work. As a boy, he kept 100 hens and sold the eggs to Fales Store. He dug clams every tide in his younger years. He cut wood, peddled seafood, built houses, and started a wholesale business in 1969 that kept him occupied for as many hours as he wished until his retirement in 2020 at the age of 80.

Karl is survived by his wife of 65 years, Laraine Stone Crute of Cushing; his daughters Edwynna Merle Crute of Cushing, Alicia Marie Crute Morse and her husband Robert of Annapolis, Maryland; a son, Karl Sherman Crute, Jr. of Cushing; his grandchildren, Nicholas Olson and his partner Stephanie Driscoll of Schroeder, Minnesota, MacKenzie Hall of Appleton, RJ Hall and his wife Rose of Cushing, Elias Morse of Charlottesville, Virginia, Zoe Garland and her husband Trip of Brooklyn, New York, Anna Morse of Charlottesville, Virginia, Shawn Crute and his wife Emily of Las Vegas, Nevada, Kalob, Trevor and Maxime Crute all of Charleston, South Carolina, Harlow Peterson Crute of Thomaston; his great-grandchildren, Esme Hall of Cushing, Josie Hall of Appleton, Ford Garland of Brooklyn, New York and Tryphena Olson of Schroeder, Minnesota.

Karl was predeceased by a son, Kevin Stone Crute; a daughter, Monica Belle Crute; and his sisters Roxanne Crute and Kay Brooks.

Friends and family are invited to visit Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a service will be held Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome at a reception immediately following the service, location to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friendship-Cushing Food Pantry, 255 Cushing Rd, Friendship, ME 04547.

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