Rodger Shorty DeVine

Rodger L. "Shorty" DeVine, 81, of Springvale, died June 25 at the Maine Medical Center in Portland after a short illness.He was born in Rose Point, PA on July 15, 1929, the son of Leon and Laura Fitzgerald. Shorty lived in Iowa for a time, then came to Maine where he had a camp in Porter. He went to work for Limerick Shoe and it was there that he met Sandra Howard. They have been happily married for 40 years. After the shoe shop closed, he went to work in Gorham and then transferred to Mechanicsville, VA where he worked for AMF, returning to Maine in 2000 when AMF sent his job overseas. Upon his return to Maine he had been employed with Hannaford in Sanford, mostly behind the fish counter.Family members recalled what a kind, gentle, happy man Shorty was who was always smiling and was someone whom they could never remember raising his voice. He was especially fond of children and loved entertaining them by making balloon animals and dressing up as a clown. He was affectionately referred to as the candy man as he was always handing out candy and "sneaking" money to his kids and grandkids.Shorty was an active member of the East Limington Baptist Church and participated in the church's Awana program.Survivors include his wife Sandra DeVine of Springvale, a son Albert Fitzgerald, his wife Cathyann and their children Danny and Angela of Londonderry, NH, daughter Kai Cunningham, her husband Tim and their children Kyle and Alison of Epsom, NH, daughter Tina Hilton and her children Shannon and Elijah of Hickory, NC and 2 great grandchildren.A memorial celebration will be held on Friday at 2:00 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale with Pastor David Rowe of the East Limington Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Steep Falls Cemetery in Standish.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Make A Wish Foundation of Maine, 87 Elm Street, Suite 203, Camden, ME 04843.Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. Condolences may be expressed at the Condolences tab at left.