Sanford – Ray A. Harthorne, 71, passed away Aug. 18, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born Aug. 3, 1936, in Norway, and was the son of Richard C. and Esther (Ray) Harthorne. He was a graduate of Norway High School and was a star football player. He was very ambitious to achieve success at a very young age and started his own paving business at the age of 17 in Norway, before he joined the ArmyReserves.

He worked several jobs including Pratt and Whitney, in Hartford, Conn., and the New England Telephone Company before starting his very successful building business, Harthorne Homes, which was incorporated in 1978. He was a member of the National Association of Home Builders. He prided himself in building “quality built homes,” and worked closely with his customers to insure their complete satisfaction.

He met his wife Karen in 1980, and they were married in 1985. They and the children, Jeff and Julie, traveled together as a family along the East Coast and found their piece of paradise in Marco Island, Fla., where they spent their winters.

He is survived by his loving wife, Karen, of Marco Island, Fla.; his son, Jeff S. Normand and his wife, Jennifer, of North Billerica, Mass.; his daughter, Julie E. Normand and her fiancé, Brandon, of Dover, N.H.; two brothers, Gordon E. Harthorne and his wife, Earla, of Norway, and Richard Larry Harthorne and his wife, Paige, of South Paris; a special mother-in-law, Carolyn F. Hooper; seven nephews; six nieces; and many special relatives and friends.