South Paris – Edwin E. Thayer of Oxford died May 30, at the Maine Veterans Home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

He was born in Norway on Sept. 3, 1932, the son of Dorothea and Arthur Thayer. Raised on the farm in Oxford, Ed’s work ethic began at a young age delivering milk before walking for miles uphill both ways to school. After graduating from Oxford High School in 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and served his country with great pride.

On July 2, 1953, he married Janice Colby on the farm in Oxford.

After completing his four years in the Navy, he went to work for Robinson Manufacturing Co. for a short while. He also worked for the state of Maine building the Maine Turnpike. His love of trucks began when he went into business with his cousin at H&B Trucking in Saco. This led him to Wiscasset where they bought Lincoln Motor Express. From there trucks led him through many a company; Bisson, Nelson Freightways, Coke-a-Cola in New Hampshire, and Fox & Ginn. Finally in 1978, he bought two trucks and began Ed Thayer Inc.

Settling back in Oxford in 1983, retiring, or pretending to retire, in 1994, with a fleet of 35 trucks. Spending winters in St. Petersburg, Fla., and summers at his favorite spot on Hogan Pond in Oxford. With the business being turned over to his oldest son, Floyd, he had time to hunt and fish with the guys in Moxie and Lexington.

Ed was a 50-year member of Bradford Sortwell Wright American Legion Post in Wiscasset, Lincoln Masonic Lodge 3 AF&AM of Wiscasset, Kora Temple Shrine, Scottish Rites, as well as serving as a Wiscasset selectman in the 60s.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, of 56 years on July 2; his three sons, Floyd and his wife, Paula, of Oxford, Colby and his companion, Jan, Bill and his wife, Cheryl, all of Wiscasset; and his daughter, PattiJo and her husband, Stephen Averill, of Alna. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, Don, Marshal and Bradley Thayer, Colby his wife, Camille, and Jessica Thayer, Willy, Colton and Chesley Thayer, and Laura-Kate and Daniel Averill; as well as his dog, Bell.

Ed was predeceased by his mother; and father; and his brother, Harold.

It is with heartfelt thanks that we thank all the people at the Maine Veterans Home who spent Dad’s last days with him.

Copy the Story Link