1928 – 2003

NORWAY – John C. Bryant, 75, retired Chief of the Paris Fire Department died Friday morning, Nov. 21, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Buckfiled, March 19, 1928, the son of James W. and Florence Childs Bryant. He attended school in South Paris and faithfully served his country in the Navy during World War II, serving on the USS Princeton.

He had been employed as an attendant at Hunt’s Filling Station, a salesman at A.W. Walker and Son, a paper carrier for the Lewiston Sun Journal and a letter carrier for the postal service.

He was a member of the Paris Fire Department for 53 years, 27 of those years as Chief. He was a member of the Western Maine Firefighters Association. In earlier years he enjoyed bowling, then playing pool and raising peas and cucumbers.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Betty Martin Bryant of Ledgeview Living Center, West Paris; a daughter, Toni Hamlin of South Paris; two sons, Timothy and Terry both of South Paris; granddaughters, Kimberly Hamlin and Charlotte Bryant; stepgranddaughters, Karen Morrison, Lindsey and Stephanie Piirianen; three brothers and their wives, Joseph and Evelyn of Brunswick, Richard and Nan of Conway, N.H., and William and Ursula of Tampa, Fla.; many nieces and nephews.