John  N.  Plath – 97, of South Attleboro, MA, died Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Woodbriar Health Care Center in Wilmington. He was the husband of the late Helen Plath.

Born in North Attleboro, MA on June 15, 1920. He was the son of the late Nelson and Harriot (Martin) Plath. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II.

John worked for many years for the Lubrx Oil Company, he was a mixer for oil compounds. He was the oldest charter member of the Elks in North Attleboro and a member of St. Theresa’s Church in South Attleboro for many years.

He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. John kept up with all the current events at age of 97. He would read two newspapers a day and loved working in his yard into his nineties. He especially enjoyed working in his vegetable garden.

Family members include his loving daughters, Judith Kelleher and her husband William of North Reading and Elaine Scott and her husband Richard of Attleboro; his brother, Richard Plath of North Attleboro and his sisters, Mary Plath of North Attleboro, Joan Flatley of AZ and Patricia Mowry of Marlborough; late brothers Nels, James and Joseph Plath and late sister Ellen Clark; 5 cherished grandchildren, Meaghan Kloetzel and her husband Alex, Katie Patriquin and her husband Ryan, Bill Kelleher and his wife Kristy, Matt Scott and his wife Helen and Colleen Babul and her husband Mike; 9 great grandchildren, Kolton, Kane, Bailey, Alex, Aidan, Riley, Bode, Marie and Eleni. He was the father of the late John Plath.

Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.  Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Alan G. Christie – 74, of Wilmington, formerly of Woburn and North Reading, died Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Care One at Wilmington, after a lengthy illness.

Born in Everett, MA on January 3, 1941, he was the son of the late Vernon and Mary L. (Quinton) Christie. He attended North Reading High School and joined the U.S. Air Force at age 18. He was an Airman 2^nd Class and he served from 1958 to 1961.

Alan worked as a Vinyl Siding Installer for the Everett Aluminum Company for many years. He loved motorcycles, he was a member of the Free Spirits Motorcycle Club in Wilmington, the Moose Lodge and the Horseshoe Lounge in North Reading.

He was a great father, son, brother and a great uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was known to be very helpful and would do anything for anyone.

Family members include his wife Donna (Stokes) Christie; sons, Alan, William and Chris Christie; daughters, Tammy Richards, Paula Calvi and Carolyn McGraw; brothers, Ronald Christie, his twin the late Donald Christie and the late Robert Christie; sisters, Laura Murphy, Mildred Owen, Dorothy Armstrong and Mary McGuinness; 15 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Funeral from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, March 2 at 10 AM, followed by a graveside service at the Veteran’s Lot in Riverside Cemetery, 171 Elm Street, North Reading at 10:30 AM.

The family requests no flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Compassionate Care Hospice, 800 West Cumming Park, Suite 3100, Woburn, MA 01801. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Cyrus C. Mugford, Jr. – 64, of Milan, NH, formerly of Wilmington, Sebastian, Florida and North Reading, died Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, NH.

Born in Stoneham, MA on June 5, 1953, he was the son of the late Cyrus and Mildred Mugford. He was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1971.

Cy worked for his family owned business, CM & Sons in North Reading for many years. He was also the owner of John Zanni Pumping and Mugford Brothers Construction.

Cy was a caring husband and father and was a hard worker. He loved boat racing, he was the former owner and operator of the 2^nd Amendment off shore Race Boat. He was Florida State Champs, for three years straight and came in second in the World Championships. He was a member of SBI Racing and OPA Racing.

Family members include his loving wife of 43 years, Debbie (Grieco) Mugford; sons, Gary Mugford of Portland, Maine, Robert Mugford of Waltham and Phillip Mugford of Naples, Florida; his brother, Paul Mugford of Tewksbury; sisters, Cindy Pfeiffer of Reading and the late Janice Mugford; one granddaughter and another grandchild on the way. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His memorial service will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Saturday, March 3 at Noon. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 11 to Noon. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.   www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Earl  E.  Florence – 90, of Londonderry, NH and formerly of North Reading, died unexpectedly on Monday, February 19, 2018, at the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH.

Born in Winchester, MA on November 19, 1927, he was the son of the late Earl E. and Evelyn K. (Flaherty) Florence. He was a graduate of Mitchell Military Boys School in Billerica and the Emerson School for Boys in Exeter, NH, Class of 1944.

Earl worked for and was a member of the Pipe Fitters Union Local 537 for 72 years and was a former resident of North Reading for 89 years. Earl was Past Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus in North Reading and a member of the Middlesex Pigeon Racing Club for forty years.

He loved his family and animals. He was an avid football and baseball fan, he enjoyed the stock market and politics. His favorite quote was “I am left handed but I am always right”.

Family members include his loving wife of 67 years, Doris A. (Peck) Florence; his son, Dana Florence and his wife Rose of Amherst, NH; daughters, Erlene McSweeney and her husband Joe and Kathleen Willett, all of Tewksbury, Morene Jacklin and her husband Alan of Raymond, NH and Christine Tower and her husband Steve of Tewksbury; his sister, Evelyn Doran of North Reading; 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Robert Florence.

Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, February 23 from 9:30 to 11 AM, followed by a 11 AM funeral service. Interment will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Catherine “Terry” (Walsh) Parsons –  78, of North Reading, passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, after a lengthy illness.  Catherine was the daughter of the late Catherine Edna (Smith) and Joseph Walsh, formerly of Lee Road, North Reading.

Catherine was born in Everett and spent her early childhood there before moving to North Reading, where she lived most of her life.  She was a member of St. Theresa’s Church for about 70 years, she attended North Reading Schools and was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School in Reading.

Catherine is survived by her daughter Kathleen Parsons; granddaughter Taylor Saulnier; her sister Joanne Walsh and brothers William Walsh, David Walsh, and John Walsh. Catherine was predeceased by her youngest daughter Lauralee Parsons; her husband of 53 years, Stephen Parsons; her sister Eileen Walsh, brothers Joseph (Ned) Walsh, Jr., James Walsh and Thomas Walsh.

Calling hours will be on Tuesday, February 20^th, from 5 to 8 PM and the funeral service will be held at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Wednesday, February 21^st at 10:30 AM. www.CroswellFuneralHome.com