PORTLAND – Walter Ford Hewett, 70, of Fayette, died Monday, June 6, at Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Fayette, on March 22, 1935, the second of 10 children to Chester and Frances (Lieber) Hewett. He was a graduate of Livermore Falls High School, Class of 1953.

After graduation, he was employed with Carleton Woolen Mill, and later owned and operated the Fayette Country Store from 1961 to 1985. During those years, he served in the Army reserves for 20 years and served his community in several capacities. He was a charter member of the Fayette Fire Department for 47 years, 14 of which he was fire chief, and was the town fire warden. He was the town of Fayette’s tax collector in 1961 and 1968, and from 1967 until the present, he was a school bus driver for SAD 36 and Fayette.

On Feb. 29, 1988, he was the recipient of the Certificate of Recognition for Extraordinary Public Service, nominating him for the Jefferson Awards, which recognizes individuals who have performed outstanding public service in local communities of Maine.

He was very proud of his long tenure as a school bus driver, having safely transported three generations of boys and girls to local schools. He enjoyed gardening, repairing a wide variety of things so they looked nice, and helping people in his community. Most important to him, however, was his loving family and grandchildren, and the time spent with them at his camp on Echo Lake.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jean E. (Wheeler) Hewett; one son, Ronald Hewett and his wife, Orra Lee, of Fayette; three daughters, Susan Demers and her husband, Ronald, of Coopers Mills, Linda Elliot and her husband, Robert, of Mt. Vernon, and Marcia Millett and her husband, Timothy, of Whitefield; three brothers, Fred and his wife, Phyllis, of Fayette, Jim and his wife, Judy, of Auburn, and Larry and his wife, Melinda, of Leeds; five sisters, Mary Roulston and her companion, Don Whitney, of Mattawamkeag, Sally Baker and her husband, John, of Crawford, Nancy Hewett of Fayette, Patsy Paquette and her husband, Phil, of Lewiston, and Sandra Mansfield and her husband, Dan, of Winthrop; a sister-in-law, Janet Hewett of Machias; grandchildren, Joshua, Matthew and Kathryn Demers, Travis and Ashley Elliot, Joshua Millett, Jennifer Nickless and Melissa Alleborn; and great-grandchildren, Megan and Zachary Nickless, and Abigail Bousquet.

He was predeceased by his parents; and one brother, John Hewett, formerly of Machias.

The Hewett family would like to thank the staff at Maine Medical Center for their care, compassion and support extended to Walter and his family during his stay at the facility.

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