NEW VINEYARD – Jerry Raymond Howard, 55, went to heaven from his home in New Vineyard on Friday, Dec. 23, after a long heroic battle with his health.

He was born in Farmington on March 27, 1950, the son of Raymond and Marjorie Howard of New Vineyard. He attended Roosevelt Grammar School in New Vineyard and was a 1968 graduate of Farmington High School.

Jerry married the former Sandra Beaulieu of Caribou on Nov. 9, 1980. They recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Jerry worked as a woodsman and also did paving and snowplowing. He built My Wife’s Place, a convenience store in New Vineyard and was proprietor along with his wife for five years.

Jerry’s health began to deteriorate in 1991. He received a kidney transplant that lasted for three years. He was on dialysis from 1992 to 1993 and from 1996 until a week before his death.

Regardless of his health problems, Jerry really enjoyed life. He loved fishing and hunting, antiques and going to camp in Brooksville. He took great pleasure in starting seedlings in the spring and working with 4-H showing steers on the fair circuit. Family gatherings were very important to him. We will always remember how he had the knack of making people laugh.

Jerry also loved New Vineyard and its history. He put his heart into serving his community. He served on the planning board and fire department and at the time of his death was a selectman and fire warden. He also served as town constable years ago.

From 1995 to 2005, he served as leader of the Franklin County 4-H Working Steer Club. He was president of the Franklin County 4-H Leaders Association for at least eight years and served on the Maine State Working Steer Committee.

In the past, he participated in the choir and sang solos at the Mountain View Bible Church.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Sandra; his three sons, Bradford, serving with the U.S. Army Reserves and his fiance, Jessie LaRochelle, of Kennebunkport, Craig of Strong and Shawn of New Vineyard; his daughter, Kirsten and her husband, Nathan Northrup, of Jefferson; his five grandchildren, Cordell, Shane, Bethabelle, Brenig and Caleb; his mother, Marjorie Howard of New Vineyard; one brother, Keith of New Vineyard; five sisters and their husbands, Dinah and David Kidd and Sandra and Gary Bestwick, all of New Vineyard, Linda and Harold Olmstead of Brownville, Susan and Jonathan Lisherness of Phillips and Judy and Leslie Smith of East Dixfield; his best friend, Billy Hoar of Farmington; and many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by his father in 2001 and by an infant son.

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