Maurice E. Drown Sr., of St. Johnsbury, passed peacefully Wednesday morning, June 12, 2013, at the age of 97. He was born Oct. 9, 1915, in Concord, Vt., the sixth son of Arthur E. and Ethel Brownlow Drown. At 5 years of age, Maurice moved with his family to Willow Farm on Pleasant Street Extension (now Rocky Ridge). Maurice still felt like the farm was home, even after more than 70 years on Green Street, where he and Portia raised their family. Maurice and Portia walked to and attended the Arlington School together and Maurice graduated with the Class of 1934 from St. Johnsbury Academy. He and Portia were devoted members of Grace United Methodist Church. They were married May 25, 1940, at the Springfield Methodist Church in Springfield, Vt. On Sept. 29, 1979, Maurice (Mort) retired as yard foreman after 37 years, first with the St. J. & L. C. and later with the Canadian Pacific railroads. He became active with AARP, delivered for Meals on Wheels, and worked the information booth. He began reading big books voraciously, including the Bible. Maurice bought a new car every few years --the last one in 2009 --which he kept polished and, except for daily rides with Portia, parked in his garage, while he walked for miles all over town. He stayed in fantastic shape (body, mind and spirit) every day of his life. Folks who knew Maurice, especially the folks at the St. Johnsbury Health & Rehabilitation Center, and even the staff at NVRH who worked with him after his hip fracture on Sunday night, knew him to be an extraordinarily bright, capable, straight forward, task-oriented kind of guy. He handled his work life, his family life and his personal life with the same focus --A job to be done? Do it. Now! Maurice is survived by four of their five children: Nathan and Sally, Cheryl Guinan, Maurice Jr. (Mick) and Charla, and Janet and Bruce Benoit; daughters-in-law: Sue Bimson Drown and Rachel (Rae) Boucher Drown; a son-in-law, John F. (Jack) Guinan; 12 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; brothers-and sister-in-law; cousins; and generations of nieces and nephews. Everett Emery Mullineaux, born June 16, 2013, would have been Maurice and Portia's first great-great-grandchild. Maurice was predeceased by his wife, Portia, on Nov. 8, 2008; their son, Jared (Jerry), on Sept. 7,1998; five brothers and a sister; as well as several brothers-and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. Maurice was predeceased by his wife, Portia, on Nov. 8, 2008; their son, Jared (Jerry), on Sept. 7,1998; five brothers and a sister; as well as several brothers-and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. The family invites those who wish to join them at the family lot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2013, for the burial and a celebration of Maurice's long and productive life. All are welcome for a time of further sharing immediately afterwards at the home of Nate and Sally Drown at Shadow Lake in Concord, Vt. In liew of flowers, contributions may be made in Maurice's memory to the Jerry Drown Memorial Fund at St. Johnsbury Academy, 1000 Main St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.