Obituary

Louis G. Landry

Mon, 10/25/2021 - 1:45pm

Louis “Lou” Guy Landry, 86, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and Master Woodturner, passed away peacefully on Sept. 30, 2021, in the family home in Ocean Point, East Boothbay, Maine. To Lou, Ocean Point was the most beautiful place on earth.

Lou was born in Westbrook, Maine on Dec. 10, 1934 to Joseph and Eva (Pinette) Landry. He was the youngest of four children and had an older brother Edgar and two older sisters Edna and Muriel.

In 1953, Lou met and fell in love with his beautiful, sweet and future wife, Marilyn Ava Flint, a lifelong native of Ocean Point. In a short time, he quickly converted from a Westbrook city dweller to a “Tried and True Ocean Pointer!” Everyday Lou would boldly proclaim, “People travel the world looking for paradise, but paradise is living right here in Ocean Point!”

Lou enjoyed a lifelong career in Maine’s shipbuilding industry. Earlier in his career, he worked at Fuller and Goudy & Stevens shipyards in East Boothbay. In 1975, he started working at Bath Iron Works in the Tin Shop and was promoted to floor supervisor and then promoted again to a planner position in the office. After working 25 years at BIW, Lou retired in 2000.

He pushed himself to achieve excellence in everything that he pursued in life, whether it was sports, hobbies, or woodworking. His interests changed throughout his lifetime from running road races, to playing in racquetball tournaments, to a competitive game of golf. Lou spent many hours mowing the family’s massive lawn which he amusingly nicknamed “The Ocean Point Country Club!”

As a great Dad, Lou knew the importance of teaching his five children, Bill, Linda, Karen, Lisa and Tom, the value of working hard. When he took-up organic gardening and discovered that he had a green thumb, he became so overly enthusiast that he expanded from one vegetable garden to four very large gardens! In the summertime, Lou and Marilyn enjoyed taking their children to Thomas Point Beach, Long Lake and Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach for a day of family fun. Throughout the years, they enjoyed hosting annual lobster bakes for their family and friends.

At 70 years old, Lou proved that you are never too old to master a new skill. With his 50+ years of woodworking and a passion for fine craftmanship, he bought his first lathe and taught himself woodturning. Over the years, Lou’s woodturning talent amazingly earned him the title of “Master Woodturner!”

After successfully selling many of his wooden bowls in local art galleries, Lou decided it was time to open his own gallery called “Ocean Point Woodturning” inside his workshop. He specialized in solid wood bowls, live edge, burls, and segmented wood bowls and vases.

In 2014, Lou made Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s history with his award-winning wooden bowl named “Confetti,” winning both first place honors and People’s Choice awards at the annual ArtinMe show! In 2016, the Maine Woodturners Association commended Lou for his work being accepted for the annual display of “Maine Woods” at the Messler Gallery at the Center for Furniture Craftmanship in Rockport.

Over the years, Lou donated his finely crafted wood bowls to the annual Boothbay Charities Classic Auction which supports his favorite charity, the Special Olympics of Maine.

Lou was predeceased by his loving wife Marilyn of 62 years and will be sadly missed by their five children: William Landry (Patricia) of Kennebunk; Linda Landry Spang (Austin) of Bristol, Rhode Island; Karen Landry McIlwain (Scott) of Portland; Lisa Landry of Boca Raton, Florida; and Thomas Landry (Bette) of Boothbay. His five grandchildren: Anastacia Spang Southland (Peter); Hal Spang; Alexis McIlwain Valdes (Andres); Dalton McIlwain; and Katherine Landry. Lou was delighted to meet his first great-grandchild, Elliot James Southland, shortly before he passed.

A memorial service will be held for Lou on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. on the family property in Ocean Point. Pastor Al Roberts will be officiating the service. There will be a reception immediately following the service inside Lou’s studio and workshop. Family and friends are all welcome to attend. A variety of Lou’s beautiful wooden bowls and vases will be on display to honor his remarkable woodturning career. Online condolences may be expressed at hallfuneralhomes.com