Louie H. Haskell, Jr. lived a life filled with family and friends. He died at the age of 96, on Thursday, March 11, 2021 surrounded by beloved family.

Louie married Elsie (Simmons) Haskell 75 years ago. They met at school and Elsie knew early on that she wanted to marry Louie.

When they were dating, Louie would roller skate from his home on Gifford Avenue to Gulf Hill ice cream parlor to wait for Elsie so he could walk her home — neither knowing, at the time, they would raise their family close by.

Born in New Bedford, Louie was the oldest son and one of seven children of the Louie H. and Syrena (Everson) Haskell. He lived more than 80 years in Dartmouth and loved his town.

Louie served in the Navy (Pacific Ocean) on the USS Montpelier from 1942-1945, being awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Medal with 7 Stars and the Philippine Liberations Medal.

As an accomplished tradesman, Louie earned a living drywalling, painting and wallpapering, skills he often used to help his children and grandchildren as they acquired their own homes.

Louie would teach the basics of his craft while working alongside them. He enjoyed doing carpentry and spent years remodeling his house, transforming it into the family home.

With his wife, they had a hearth that warmed the souls of all who entered their home. Family, extended family, friends and strangers were always welcome.

Louie was an avid gardener, sometimes battling with woodchucks for his produce. He enjoyed being outside and working around his property, still cutting grass on his riding lawnmower well into his 80’s.

Every year he would go hunting, claiming only to take one bullet with him. Of all the years he hunted, there was only one year we recall he bagged a deer.

It is possible he just enjoyed the time away with friends in the woods.

Louie instilled an appreciation of nature and the outdoors in his family, taking them on adventures along the outdoor paths he maintained on his property and highlighting signs of wildlife, identifying birds and just spending time with them.

While outwardly reserved, Louie’s quick wit and dry humor were doled out liberally.

His movie-star good looks and innocent face hid his mischievousness, whether it was sneaking out as a child in the middle of the night to watch the circus come to town and get a chance to water the elephants or being the instigator of silly antics with the children in his life.

Louie was always strong and very physically fit, amazing those around him by hanging from trees and learning to rollerblade in his 70s.

He was a role model for a life well lived; judicious with his words, but with a way of listening that made others feel important. Louie did a StoryCorp interview with his granddaughter that is archived in the Library of Congress at the American Folklife Center.

Surviving is his widow, Elsie; a son, Barry Haskell and his wife, Wendy; a daughter, Mary Lou Frias and her husband, Ernest; five grandchildren, Melissa Haskell and her husband, Jeff Graber, Elizabeth Haskell, Sarah Haskell Arruda and her husband, Paul, Katherine Frias and her husband, Thaddeus Herliczek, Timothy Frias, and his wife Amy; 7 great grandchildren, Ryan and Gabrielle Arruda, Grace Haskell, Madeleine and Anna Herliczek, Cecilia, and Sterling Frias.

He is survived by two sisters, Syrena Davis and Mary Kirkham. He was the sibling of the late Priscilla Heyes, Thurley McDonald, Louise Crawford, and Alan Haskell. Many nieces and nephews mourn his departure.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Social Concerns Ministry at St. Mary’s Church, 789 Dartmouth Street, South Dartmouth, MA 02748.

Due to the current pandemic, the funeral mass and burial are private. Arrangements are in the care of the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth, MA 02748.

To leave a note of condolence visit www.waring-sullivan.com.