Allen R. Brackett

A life well lived.  Allen Robert Brackett, born on July 14, 1924, passed away on July 11, 2022. Allen, the eldest son of Herman and Frances (Allen) Brackett, was born in Medford, Massachusetts.

Allen lived a life defined by his curiosity and intellect. He spent much of his youth in Casco, Maine. He was a 'Mainer' through and through, always humble, polite, hard working, and respectful of others and the environment he enjoyed so much.

He was a World War II veteran, being drafted after graduation from Casco High School. Upon entry into the Army, he was tested and spent his first years in service at the University of North Dakota to study engineering. He was always a bit regretful for not immediately going to the front as so many others did. In November of 1944, Allen was eventually sent to join the newly formed 66th Infantry Division, headed to England, then Northern France. Five months after Allen's arrival in Europe, in May 1945, the Germans surrendered and most Allied Forces draftees were sent home. Allen remained stationed in Austria and France, assisting in the peaceful reconstruction of Europe, returning home with an honorable discharge later that year.

Allen took advantage of the GI Bill to attend the University of Maine at Orono, graduating in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He maintained a love for UMaine's School of Engineering throughout his life, always following new developments.

Allen met his sweetheart, Marguerite Jones, at UMO and they married in 1951. They recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary.  Allen moved his new family to Kittery to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in the Engineering Design Division until his retirement in 1979.

Allen was a Past Master of Naval Lodge #184 AF&AM. He was also a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shriners. His friends and fellow masons invariably commented on his remarkable abilities in ceremony and degree work. He was often called upon to lead or take a part in a ritual around the state of Maine.

The loves of his life, his lovely partner and wife Marguerite, daughter Allane and son Russ, were constant sources of joy.  He never missed a chance to listen, help in an endeavor, or educate in complex sciences of engineering or astronomy. If one wanted to understand black holes or the theory of relativity, Allen was the man to talk with.

Allen was predeceased by his youngest brother Weldon.  He is survived by his loving wife Marguerite; brother Malcolm Brackett; sister-in-law Lida Brackett; daughter Allane Ball and husband Steve; son Russell Brackett and wife Linda and their extended family; grandsons Benjamin Ball and wife Alison, and Jonathan Ball; great-grandchildren Briana, Elijah, Jacob and Alyssa; great-great-grandchild Graham "Chip" McKinney; several nieces and a nephew.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Allen Brackett can be made to Honor Flight Maine at P.O. Box 1770, Portland, Maine 04104-1770. A secure donation can also be made at honorflightmaine.org.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday July 23, 2022 at noon in the JS Pelkey and Son Funeral Home 125 Old Post Road Kittery Maine 03904.

Care for the Brackett family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey and Son Funeral Home.