AUGUSTA – Cleon A. Corson, 92, died June 17, at MaineGeneral Rehab. & Nursing Home at Glen Ridge.

He was born on Porter Hill, Farmington, Feb. 25, 1912, the son of Alton and Mildred (Hutchinson) Corson. He was saved in l928, and baptized in Pease Pond. He was married Sept. 10, 1936, to Velma Smith in Oakland by Rev. Will Kelley.

He worked in many places throughout his life starting on the farms of Herb and Merton Knapp, and Frank and Fred Blanchard. He also drove teams of horses in the woods in the late 1920’s, and worked and ran a wood turning novelty mill from 1934-1950.

As a craftsman he built sulkies and carts for race horses in the 1940s, and trained them for his father. He was a millright and toolmaker in the Grommet Factory in North Jay from 1952-1966. He then worked as a construction foreman on the first turnpike bridges and Tukey Bridge in Portland, the I.P. mill site, the original Farmington junior high, UMF Main St. dorm, home economics building, and the dining hall. His last job was in maintance for SAD 9 for nine-and-half years retiring in 1974.

Purchasing land on Morrison Hill June 1970, he built his last home and worked the apple orchard surrounding it for 20 years, making his own apple ladders. He raised and trained a morgan horse, Acadian Skipper, to do several tricks, showing at schools and fairs, meanwhile managing Class A horse shows for the fair association.

He then raised, trained, and showed Blue Roan Mountain Welsh draft ponies from 1975-1999, for which he made his own carts and harnesses. He won many ribbons and trophys.

He was a member of the Maine Pony Teamster Association, 4-H, Angus Asso., Sandy River Riding Club, Knights of Pythias, Tripple Town Swingers, Sandy River Promenaders, Captian of the Canton, Northern Lights Snowmoblers, Odd Fellows, Farmington Grange, Pomona, State & National Grange, and Maine Horse Assoc.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years; three children, Doane B. Corson and wife Donna of Casco, Donald C. Corson and wife Linda of Farmington, Mildred A. MacDonald and husband Mike of Pittston; 10 grandchildren, Deborah Stebbins of New Gloucester, Michael Corson of Naples, Melissa Jones of Wilton, Peter Corson of Farmington, Donna Hinkley of Farmington, Penny Bracket of Farmington, Jody MacDonald of Portland, Shawn MacDonald of Cheyenne, Wy., Craig MacDonald of Buckfield, Erin Knox of Ninilchick, Alaska, Danielle Minott of Hudson, N.H.; great-grandchildren, Letitia and Virginia Hinkley, Nicholas MacDonald, Lori and Kelly Stebbins, Cristina and Jessica Corson, Andrea and Evan Jones, Brittany, Victoria, and Aricka Corson, James and Agnes Brackett, Karryn MacDonald, Sarah MacDonald; sister-in-law, Ann Corson; neices and nephews in Arizona; a nephew in California; special cousins, Phyllis Hewey and family, Glennis Foss and family, Richard and Gwen Mooar.