PEABODY, Mass. — William C. Bryant Sr., 77, of East Wilton, formerly of Canton, passed away Monday, Sept. 20, at Kindred Hospital in Peabody, Mass., having fought a courageous battle with post surgical complications from heart surgery in early July.

He was born May 12, 1933, in Peru, a son of Derriel and Lillian (Turner) Bryant. He received his education in Peru schools and was proud of his military service, having served in the U.S. Army, serving stateside during the Korean Conflict.

He married the former Lovina Irish, and together raised a family of 10. For over 40 years, he was a paper maker on paper machines 11 and 12 at Boise Cascade in Rumford, leaving as machine tender.

In the early 1990s, he was honored for his dedicated service to the town of Canton, having served as a selectman and head selectman of the town, as well as former fire chief. He was instrumental in establishing the water treatment plant in town, as well as obtaining a grant for a new fire truck.

Recently, he enjoyed early mornings at the University of Maine at Farmington Fitness Center, where he would swim in the pool. He also enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing with family and friends, watching Red Sox baseball, challenging others to a good game of cribbage, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lovina, of East Wilton; their children, Cyndi Corey and her husband, Ron, of East Wilton, William Bryant Jr. of East Wilton, State Rep. Mark Bryant and his wife, Diane, of Windham; Melody Lurz and her husband, John, of Melbourne, Fla., Roscoe Bryant and his wife, Elisabeth, of Greenville, S.C., State Sen. Bruce Bryant of Dixfield, Caleb Bryant and his wife, Lisa, of Hebron, Joy Olson and her husband, Steve, of Amherst, N.H., and twin sons, Nathan Bryant and his wife, Jen, of Mississauga, Canada, and Philip Bryant and his wife, Elizabeth, of Vancouver, Canada; four brothers, Craig “Bo” Bryant of Victorian Villa, Canton, Derriel Bryant and John Bryant, both of Branton, Fla., and Gordon Goldsmith of Wilton; sisters, Florence Haynes of Peru and Paula Benoit and her husband, Joe, of Phippsburg; sister-in-law, Linda Sandberg of Arizona; 21 grandchildren, Marcus Corey, Rebekah Malcore, Noah Bryant, Joshua “Josh” Bryant, Adam Bryant, Sadie Lurz, Karen Bryant, Sharon Bryant, Lanette Bryant, Larissa Bryant, Logan Bryant, Sean Bryant, Lindsey Bryant, Addie Olson, Isaiah Bryant, Micah Bryant, Lydia Bryant, Ana Bryant, Alissa Bryant, Elijah Bryant and Josiah Bryant; 9 great-grandchildren: Abishai Corey, Hadassah Corey, Braxton Malcore, Kensley Malcore, Lincoln Malcore, Lexi Bryant, Chase Wade, Zion Bryant and Eden Bryant. He was also anticipating the birth of two more great-grandchildren.

Tributes and condolences may be shared with Mr. Bryant’s family at www.wilesrc.com.