BOWDOIN – George Stephen Byras made his way to Heaven on Tuesday, Feb. 6. At the time of his death, his family, whom he loved and cherished, surrounded him with love. He died as he lived; simply, mentally sharp and thinking of others.

He was born April 10, 1935, in Lisbon Falls and was raised in Bowdoin. He was the son of John Michael and Mary Lacko Byras. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Louis Pat Murphy.

He attended Bowdoin schools and graduated from Lisbon High School, Class of 1953. In his youth, he was a member of the Bowdoin Mohawks baseball team. After high school, he worked on the Lacko Farm and in the Worumbo Mill in Lisbon Falls.

He entered the Air Force in 1957, retiring as a master sergeant in 1979. After seeing most of the world while in the service, he returned to his childhood home of Bowdoin to raise his own family. He hand-built the home to raise his family, and together this family built a firm foundation, an unbreakable bond and laughs and memories, never to be forgotten. He was employed by Bath Iron Works from 1980 to 1998 as an electrician on the second shift.

He was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Brunswick, the 317th Veterans Group and worked every second Friday and Saturday since his retirement on the United Methodist baked bean suppers. In the early 1980s he assisted in finishing off the inside of the Bowdoin P.T.C. Community Building.

He spent many hours catching brook trout from the Bowdoin streams, ice fishing, hunting, working in his garden, preparing his wood for the winter, as well as being an avid crossword puzzle and word puzzle solver. He could always be found working around the house, keeping his property up, making repairs on his own things, or giving assistance to others. His greatest joy, without a doubt, was time spent with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Corley Anne Morton Byras; and their children, George S. Byras II of Bowdoin, Stephanie J. Turgeon, and husband, Christopher, of Augusta, Grant S. Byras, and wife, Sharon, of Holden and Treon E. Dupuis, and her husband, Robert, of South Boston; his siblings, Katherine Betty Small of Bowdoin, Francis Trod Byras of Bowdoin, Shirley Durgin, and husband, Paul, of Lisbon and Louis Murphy, and wife, Peggy, of Bowdoin; also his favorite grandchild, Mallory Turgeon; four nieces; and four nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; stepfather; a brother, John M. Byras; plus an infant sister.