Lee E. Stewart (1930-2016)

FARMINGTON  – Lee E. “Sonny” Stewart, 86, of Rt. 43, Temple Road, Wilton, died early Sunday morning, May 29, 2016, at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Farmington on May 7, 1930, a son of Ardean Morlon and Alice Pearl (Merry) Stewart and received his education in local schools. Mr. Stewart was a veteran of the Maine Guard, a precursor to the Maine National Guard. On Sept. 15, 1956, he married Muriel E. Rancourt in Wales. She passed Oct. 22, 1997.

Mr. Stewart first was employed at Farmington Oil as a long distance trucker and later worked for the Maine Department of Transportation for over 29 years, building and maintaining many roads across the State of Maine. He also owned and operated Lee Stewart Excavation.

Mr. Stewart will be fondly remembered as being an “Old Time Mainer” who enjoyed working in the Maine woods with his trucks and equipment. He loved working with the earth, having twitched logs with a team of horses with his father and was known for his skills as a “dowser.”

He is survived by his children, Michelle Tyler of Connecticut, Judy Cubby of Wilton, Terry Bailey of Michigan, Michael Stewart and his wife, Debbie of New Hampshire, and Suzanne S. Rancourt of New York state; grandchildren, Michah and his wife, Bernadette, Jonah and his wife Lisa, Josh and his wife, Kim, Leanne and her husband, Aaron, Donnie, Amy and her husband, Nathan, Luke and his wife, Lisa, Ryan and his wife, Jana, Jasmine and husband, Cormac Keenan, Chelsea and her husband, Tyler Hunnewell , Sam and his wife, Jenna, and Chris; great grandchildren, Ashton, Alice, Julianna, Jude, Sydney, Alexandra, Kendra, Brendan, Braden, and Dean; a sister, Carolee Merrill of New Vineyard; many nieces and nephews; many cousins and extended family.

He was predeceased by a sister, Eletrice Farmer and a brother, Rod Stewart. Condolences, tributes, memories, and a video tribute can be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial visitation on Saturday, June 18 from 11-1 p.m. at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington where a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. Following services, refreshments will be served with interment to follow later that afternoon at the Village Cemetery in Temple. The family suggests that those who desire, consider memorial gifts in Lee’s memory to Franklin County Animal Shelter, 550 Industry Road, Farmington, ME 04938.