SOUTH PARIS – Carlton “Cuddy” Flanigan, 82, passed away on July 6, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

He was born in Presque Isle on Sept. 3, 1923, the son of Arthur Leroy and Julia Young Flanigan, the fourth of nine children.

PFC Flanigan entered the U.S. Army on May 26, 1943, at the age of 19. His assignment was Company C 717th Railway Operations, where his specialty was railway brakeman and rifle marksman. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army on Feb. 2, 1946, receiving the Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, American Theater Campaign Ribbon and the Victory Medal.

His family later moved to Casco, operating a family farm on Route 85. On March 5, 1949, Cuddy married Olive Elizabeth Small. He later built the family home on Route 85, near his farmily farm. He was the owner and operator of Cuddy’s Flying A Service Station in Naples for serveral years.

He worked for Richard Symonds as a carpenter, until illness forced him to retire in 1975. In the early 1970s, he and his son owned and raced stock cars in the charger division at Oxford Plains Speedway.

He remained at his home until his health declined, and he became a resident of the Maine Veterans’ Home in Paris, where he was well loved and well taken care of.

Cuddy is survived by his daughter, Deborah Flanigan and her companion, Mark Austin, of Gray; two sons, C. Wayne and his wife, Linda, of Naples and Bruce C. and his wife, Julie, of Cumberland; two grandchildren, Jennifer Lynn and Christopher Nathan of Cumberland; two sisters, Judith Leach of Naples and Pauline Lapointe of Florida; three brothers, Glendon “Babe” and his wife, Velma, of Oxford, George and his wife, Bernice, of Bristol, Conn. and Roger and his wife, Jeannette, of Tifton, Ga.; also his extended family at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

He was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 38 years, Olive Flanigan; a son, Jeffrrey Flanigan; two brothers, Arthur Wendell “Mike” Flanigan and Donald Flanigan; and a sister, Glennis Madore.

I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris for the nine wonderful years of care and friendship extended to my Dad. His life was made richer for it. Dr. James Eschelman for his compassion and wonderful care, even when Dad was too stubborn to recognize it; and for his support during Dad’s last days. And the nurses at Stephens Memorial Hospital of Norway for their compassion and excellent care during my Dad’s final days. It will never be forgotten Debbie Flanigan