Edward M. 'Eddie' Abbott Jr.

CRAPO - Edward M. "Eddie" Abbott Jr., 49, passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge.

He was born in Cambridge on Jan. 30, 1958, and was a son of Mary Frances "Manie" Adams Dean and Edward Mace Abbott Sr.

Eddie attended Crapo Elementary and graduated from South Dorchester High School in 1976. He worked as a boat builder and later worked as a waterman. He enjoyed fishing and being on the water and helping people.

He had been in failing health for the past two years and had been at Chesapeake Woods since Jan. 14.

Survivors include his wife, Raye Abbott of Crapo; one daughter, Angela Purdum and her husband, Keith Purdum of Baltimore; one son, Bryan Edward Abbott and his wife, Beth Abbott of Hurlock; two stepchildren, Devin Hurley of Salisbury and Brandon Hurley of Salisbury; three grandchildren, Brian Edward Abbott Jr., Camryn Abbott and Caitlin Purdum; his mother, Mary Frances "Manie" Dean of Wingate, and his father, E. Mace Abbott and his stepmother, Darlene Abbott of Bishops Head; two sisters, Cathy A. Donaldson and her husband, Jeff Donaldson of Hurlock and Cherie Lynn Parry of Cambridge; one stepbrother, F.O. "Skip" Dean Jr. of Seattle; and one stepsister, Elaine Pohl of Cambridge. He is also survived by four nieces, Michele Moxey, Lauren Zdunowski, Leigh Anne King and Ravin Bryan.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Pritchett, and by his stepfather, F. O'Neal Dean.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the White Haven United Methodist Church in Church Creek with the Rev. Robert G. Kirkley officiating. Burial will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Thomas Funeral Home, PA in Cambridge.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Taylors Island United Methodist Church, c/o Ellie Pollie, P.O. Box 215, Taylors Island, MD 21669, or to the Lake & Straits Volunteer Fire Co., 2103 Farm Creek Road, Wingate, MD 21675.

Pallbearers will be Donnie Simmons, Darren Todd, Scott Betts, Joe Ruark, Jim Adams, Tony Hayden and Charles Hayward.