Thomas L. Mackie (November 26, 1947 – November 18, 2022)

A graveside service will be held for Thomas L. Mackie on Saturday, May 27, at 11:30 a.m., at the Village Cemetery in South Thomaston. A celebration of Tom’s life will follow immediately after at the People’s United Methodist Church on Chapel Street.

SOUTH THOMASTON — Thomas Lee Mackie, 74, passed away on November 18, 2022, at his home. He was born in Rockland on November 26, 1947, the youngest child of Lawrence and Doris (Eaton) Mackie. Tom attended Rockland schools and graduated from Rockland District High School in 1966, where he played varsity basketball his junior and senior years.

In May of 1967, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy. He was initially assigned to the USS T. J. Gary, a destroyer escort. In the spring of 1970, he attended River Patrol Craft Training in California, and then was deployed to Vietnam where he served in River Patrol Force Flotilla Five as both a Boat Engineer and Boat Captain. He participated in more than 140 patrols, aiding the South Vietnamese in maintaining control of their rivers and waterways. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal before being honorably discharged in April of 1971.

After his service in the Navy, Tom continued to make his living on the water. He dragged for scallops out of New Bedford, Massachusetts for many years, netted elvers each spring, and was also a successful lobsterman aboard his boat, the River Rat.

Tom married Bonnie Kulikowski on October 18, 1986, and together they built a beautiful home overlooking the Weskeag River. They enjoyed traveling and spent a few winters in Florida.

Tom worked hard and played hard. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, and once traveled to South Dakota to attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time in the woods with his son, cousins and nephews. He was extremely proud of his granddaughters, Audrey and Grace, and loved to watch them play basketball. He liked to play pool, hang out with the Captain, and shoot the shit with family and friends.

Tom was predeceased by his brother, Robert Mackie; his sister-in-law, Beulah Mackie; and his brother-in-law, Lawrence Mason.

He is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 36 years; his sister, Sylvia Mason; his son, Matt Mackie and wife Kelly; his granddaughters Audrey and Grace Mackie; several cousins, nieces and nephews, and a few lifelong friends.

A graveside service and celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Donations may be made in Tom’s memory to:

Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 (1-855-448-3997) www.woundedwarriorproject.org

or

Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 www.LovetotheRescue.org

Burpee Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home assisted the family.