Portland – Henry E. Paradis, 79, of Oxford, died on Sunday, March 18, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, with his loving family by his side.

He was born in Norway, on March 11, 1928, the son of Henry and Elmeda (Johnson) Paradis.

On Oct. 4, 1949, he married the former Barbara Meserve.

He faithfully served his country in the United States Army Air Corp.

He had worked at Barjo’s Restaurant in Norway from 1950 to 1966 until he opened the Country Way Restaurant in South Paris. He retired from the restaurant business in 1996. In later years it gave him great enjoyment to work at the Maine Veteran’s Home, in South Paris, in the kitchen cooking his famous chowders.

He liked playing golf and raising money for local charities, especially Christmas for Kids. He was instrumental in raising money for the football field lights at Oxford Hills High School’s old football field. He funded his own semi-pro basketball team, which was named Country Way. He enjoyed his grandchildren very much.

He was a member of the Second Congregational Church of Norway, Chamber of Commerce, and the National Restaurant Association.

He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, of Oxford; three daughters, Andrea Tucker, of Norway, Joline Paradis, of Oxford, and Darcy and husband, Daniel McCabe, of Kingston, Mass; one son, Robert Paradis and his wife, Lynn, of South Paris; three sisters, Cora Payne, of South Paris, Jeannette McAllister, of Oxford, and Marie McAllister, of Oxford; a brother, Richard Paradis and his wife, Nan, of Farmingdale; grandchildren, John and Donna Paradis, of Poland, Nick and Elizabeth Paradis, of Norway, Benjamin IV and Lisa Tucker, of Burlington, Vt., Scott and Christina Paradis, of South Paris, and Katherine Tucker, of Lewiston; great-grandchildren Robert Paradis, Benjamin Tucker V, Hunter Paradis, and Sophia Paradis.

He was predeceased by a brother, Lester Paradis; and a great-grandchild, Cheyenne Paradis.