LEWISTON – Allen William Gagnon of Wiscasset, 71, also know to many as “Red,” passed peacefully on Friday, June 13, at Central Maine Medical Center, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Jackman, on Sept, 4, 1936, a son of Ralph and Lucille (Poulin) Gagnon. He attended schools in Jackman, Biddeford, Wiscasset, Connecticut, and Vermont.

For a time, he operated a trailer park in Sandy Hook, Conn. On Nov. 30, 1957, he married Ann Quinnam and in 1964, they returned to Wiscasset, where he owned and operated Gagnon’s Trailer Park. He was employed at Bath Iron Works as a painter for 12 years and then established Gagnon’s Catering as well as Al’s Place and Pizzeria in Wiscasset.

In 1977, Al purchased Red’s Eats on Route 1 in Wiscasset. Through his hard work, engaging personality and insistence on quality food and service, he turned a small roadside food stand into an icon in the state of Maine.

Although the business of Red’s Eats was a large part of Al’s life, his family and many friends played a greater role. He was devoted to his children, grandchildren and great-grandson and as a result formed a bond among them which is seldom seen in today’s world.

His interests included showing his Boxer dogs, music, singing, luxury cars, antique autos, traveling with friends and family, playing cards and enjoying life to the fullest. He was a large man with a large appetite and a roaring laugh who spread love and laughter wherever he went.

He is survived by two daughters, Deborah Cronk and her husband, David, and Cynthia Collamore and her husband, Rex, and two sons, David Gagnon and his wife, Debbie, and Joseph Gagnon, all of Wiscasset; five grandchildren, Ashley Gagnon, Sara Gagnon, Cassandra Fairfield Bickford, P.J. Fairfield and Christopher Fairfield; one great-grandson, Bryan Gagnon; six sisters, Simone Gilbert of Standish, Lillian Colby and her husband, Leroy, of Wiscasset, Janet Steeves and her husband, Merle, of Standish, Isabel Lewis and her husband, Vincent, of Boothbay, Patricia Grant and her husband, Edward, of Wiscasset and Cheryl Squires and her husband, Steven, of Portland; two brothers, Ralph Gagnon Jr. and his wife, Joyce, of Wiscasset and James Gagnon and his wife, Lucille, of Newman, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.