Obituaries

Louis M. Demarest

Longtime Orient resident Louis M. Demarest passed away Sept. 12, 2013, at San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Greenport. He was 93 years old.

Born Feb. 18, 1920, in Orient to Cora (Tuthill) and Harrison M. Demarest, Sr., he attended school there and graduated from Greenport High School. After graduation he worked on the family potato farm in Orient before joining the U.S. Army. Mr. Demarest attained the rank of sergeant and returned to Orient at the end of World War II. He continued working the family farm, H.M. Demarest and Sons, along with his father and two brothers, Harrison Jr. and Robert. Mr. Demarest married Penny Bussard on Dec. 3, 1960, and they raised a family of three boys.

In addition to potato farming, Mr. Demarest was active in his community. He was recently honored as a 70-year member of the Orient Fire Department and served as chief in the 1950s. He also served as a Southold Town justice, councilman and deputy supervisor. As town justice, he presided over many local marriages.

In the mid-1980s, he and Penny moved to Florida, where he continued to work well into his 80s. Mr. Demarest remained in Florida until Penny’s passing in 2003, then split his time between Florida and Orient. In recent years he resided full time in Orient. He was a fixture at the Orient Country Store and enjoyed debating politics and discussing his favorite baseball team, the Yankees, over a cup of coffee. He represented an important piece of Orient’s history and was interviewed by the Oysterponds Historical Society for his local knowledge.

In addition to his beloved wife, Mr. Demarest was predeceased by his brother Harrison M. Demarest Jr. He is survived by his sons, Jeff (Kara) and Carl (Danielle), both of Orient, and David, of Florida; his brother Robert, of Orient; five grandchildren; and three nieces.

A memorial service will be held in Orient Oct. 19, 2013, details of which will be announced, and interment will be at Orient Central Cemetery. The family asks that any contributions in his memory be made to San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation or Orient Fire Department.

This is a paid notice.