Earl Leslie Sherburne Jr. of Skowhegan, Maine passed away in the presence of his dear wife Jacqueline and his son Donald on May 1, 2026, at the age of 88. Earl was born in Hartland, Maine Sept. 12, 1937, to Earl Sherburne Sr. and Vivian (Rollins) Sherburne. He attended Hartland schools graduating from Hartland Academy in 1956. He had fond memories and several lifelong friends from those days.

Earl enjoyed sports. He played baseball, basketball and softball and was a fan of the Red Sox and Patriots. He played golf and in later years wintering in Az, he would score several Holes in One. He also loved fishing and hunting. Earl was known for his shooting abilities with deer and moose.

In 1955, Earl met his first love Mildred Pearl Adams and enjoyed 41 wonderful years of marriage until her death in 1996. Together they would lovingly raise their children, Valorie and Don. Many evenings were spent playing games together. He was very involved with Don’s sports, coaching some of his teams. The family spent many weekends and vacations camping. A highlight of their family was the summer leaving Bath. He loaded the station wagon, and they camped, fished and toured from Maine to Alaska and back, resettling in central Maine.

In 1957, he began his career as an apprentice pipefitter at Bath Iron Works. He would continue to work at BIW until 1969 when he began working with UA Local 783 working throughout New England and eventually Arizona. Earl and Mildred also owned several businesses, a neighborhood store in Bath, an Ice Cream Stand in Hinckley and later, The Country Store in Athens.

After Valorie and Don graduated, Earl and Mildred traveled the country looking for a place where they would like to live and Earl could work. They settled upon Arizona. They appreciated the climate, the availability of work and the landscape. They lived there until their aging parents drew them back to Maine to be closer. During this time his grandchildren Stephen, Susanna and Samuel entered into his life. He and Mildred continued to have special times with friends and family until her death in 1996

A new phase in Earl’s life began with his marriage to Jacqueline Welch in 1999. Earl and Jackie would continue to spend time fishing, camping, golfing and going to Bluegrass Festivals. Earl hunted until the Autumns got too cold. Then, they would head to Arizona where they would winter with their many friends at the Coach Stop RV park in Wellton, Az. They did so until the spring of 2023.

Earl joined the Bath Elks in 1967 and was a charter member of the Skowhegan Elks where he and Jackie loved to volunteer. He was also a Master Mason since 1981, and a member of Phoenix Scottish Rite and El Zaribah Shrine.

He is survived by his loving wife Jackie; son Donald Sherburne and his wife Judy; Stepsons – Michael Welch and wife Edie, David Welch and wife Debbie, Barry and wife Lori; Stepdaughters- Nancy Hurley and husband Kevin, Kelly Welch and her partner Chris. His sisters – Gladys Woodman, Una and her husband Stanley Shakespeare, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and lifelong friend Robert Tweedie.

Earl was predeceased by his beloved wife Mildred: his parents Earl Sr. and Vivian Sherburne; parents-in-law James Herman and Pearl Lake Adams; daughter Valorie; his siblings Arthur, Leslie, Charles, Robert, Ruth, Christine and Kathleen; and a very Special friend Weston “Moose” Elliot.

A Celebration of Earl’s Life will be June 10th from 11:00 -2:00 at the Jonathon Bowman Center, 129 Hartland Rd., St. Albans, Me.