William Childress Green
BOOTHBAY, MAINE — William Childress Green, 64, of Boothbay, Maine, died Saturday, June 25, 2011 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife Tamzon, two loving daughters Laurie and Cally, granddaughter Clare, and son-in-law Robert Colburn.
William was born in Cottonwood, Missouri to the late Alphus and Tommie Louise Green. He leaves brothers and sisters: Almettie Morris, Thomas (Doreen) Steward, Ruby Jewel Steward, Helen (Paul) Chapdelaine, Madge (Gene) Winch, Brenda (David) Lence, Edward (Diane) Green, and Betty Kinney. He is predeceased by his brother Duke (Wilma) Green and sister Evelyn (Fred) Barnes.
Growing up in the boot heel of Missouri on the Mississippi River, he and his family lived and worked together on a farm. These formative years created the framework for how he would live his entire life, a life shaped with gentle respect, attention to nature and a good day’s work. He attended McCarty Elementary School, Cooter High School and after graduating from Farmington High School, he joined the US Air Force, where he served as a propeller mechanic during the Vietnam War. He met and married Tam in Lexington, Massachusetts while on leave. They were married in 1968 and Tam joined him in the Philippines until they returned to the US and Boothbay Harbor, Maine where their oldest daughter was born.
He attended the Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute and graduated with a degree in Applied Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Biology and Oceanography. The family moved to Florida where he attended the University of South Florida and graduated with a degree in Biology from the College of Natural Sciences. Their second daughter was born and the Green’s lived there until in 1976 they moved to Connecticut where he began a career as an Aquaculture consultant. He designed hatchery systems for lobsters, hard clams and scallops. His love of the water also provided he and Tam with many years of partnership and proprietorship of Brown’s Boatyard and Bayberry Creek Marina, Inc. both located on the West River in Guilford.
His gentle leadership skills and friendly, easygoing personality were a positive influence to everyone who knew him. He was an elementary school science teacher at Saint Thomas Day School in New Haven. He graduated from the Yale School of Forestry where he received a Masters Degree in Environmental Management. He worked for the Town of Guilford as its Environmental Analyst where as an estuarine scientist he administered the Town’s Water Pollution Control Program, tracked and monitored coastal water quality trends, insured various compliances, as well he was technical liaison to various departments, commissions, and for the public trust. Along with his various efforts toward increasing the awareness, monitoring and care of the environment, William established a small community vegetable garden. His capstone project as an environmental leader while working for the town was fundraising for, design and building of a fish ladder to encourage runs of alewife, blueback herring, and sea-run brown trout through the West River to the Mill Pond.
After 30 years in Guilford, he and Tam decided to move closer to their daughters in Portland, Maine where they restored a post and beam barn on their property and opened a custom picture framing business. While boating, fishing, golfing and studying nature were his favorite outdoor activities, his first and most accomplished passion was billiards. While in Portland he joined a pool league where he played individually and on a team league. He captained, mentored and ultimately competed to win in Eight and Nine Ball Regional and National Championship competitions. He also played in individual competitions and garnered many awards for his great skill.
A private service with extended family will be held in Caruthersville, Mo., Fall 2011. Please send memorial contributions in William’s name to Audubon Society of Missouri 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261 Attention: Jerry L. Wade.
