GRAY – Jon E. Barton, 71, of Shaker Road, Gray, died Thursday, Aug. 10, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Portland on June 20, 1935, he was the son of Erwin E. and Elizabeth (Merrill) Barton.

He attended schools in Westbrook and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1953.

On Sept. 3, 1955, he married Jane N. Pollard of Gray. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.

He retired from DOT State of Maine after 41 years of service.

Jon joined the Gray Fire Department in 1959, and had 47 years of service. He became fire chief in 1987 and served until present. He was responsible for the merger of the Gray Fire Department and Rescue team together under one roof in 1993. He was very active with the New England Association of Fire Chiefs and served as president from 2004 until 2005.

He was a member of the Coastal Mutual Aid Chiefs Association, past president of the Cumberland County Chiefs Association, as well as the Maine Fire Chiefs Association. He was a strong advocate of the Juvenile Fire Setters Program and has a scholarship named in his honor.

He was a member of the Masons Cumberland Lodge No. 12 of New Gloucester, and past worthy patron of Order of Eastern Star No. 114 of New Gloucester. He was past chairman of the SAD No. 15 school board.

He was a coach of his sons’ Gray Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams. He was also Cub Scout Master of Pack 86 for many years.

He is survived by his wife Jane; three sons, Brian M. Barton of Poland, Craig W. Barton and wife, Brenda, of Gray, and Timothy J. Barton of Gray; a daughter, Kimberly J. (Barton) Hendry and husband, Stephen, of Chandler, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Sarah, Amanda, Scott and Ryan, all of Gray, and Aiden and Ethan of Chandler, Ariz.

He was predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth, in 1984; and his father, Erwin, in 2003.