NEW GLOUCESTER — Everett Stinchfield Blake, 91, died early Friday morning in his sleep at his home. He loved telling stories about his long, full life, and his laughter will be greatly missed.

Everett was born April 7, 1920, in his parents’ home on Penney Road, son of Fred Berton Blake and Muriel Stinchfield. He moved in with his grandparents next door at age 13 to help on the family farm, and has called it home ever since. He was especially proud that his great-grandson, Isaac (whom he nicknamed Ike), is the ninth consecutive generation of Blake men to reside on Penney Road.

Everett attended Penney Road School and was a 1937 graduate of New Gloucester High School. Always with a wonderful sense of humor, he enjoyed telling the story of their principal one day asking how footprints mysteriously appeared on the classroom ceiling. He and his best friend, Gil Thompson, asked if he really wanted to know that they would show him. When the principal replied with an emphatic “Yes!”they grabbed him and flipped him upside-down, pressing his feet against the ceiling.

He was a member of the National Guard for 2 years, and tried to enlist for World War II, but was rejected as it was decided he was needed more on the farm. On Aug. 7, 1943, he married his classmate, Barbara Esther Smith, who was best friends with his older sister, Hazel. Barbara tragically passed away during childbirth, along with their child, on Sept. 22, 1945.

On June 7, 1947, Everett married Dorothy Mae Libby. They raised two children, Joanne Patricia and Everett Philip in their home on Penney Road and at their camp on Little Sebago Lake in Gray. He spent many hours with his daughter and her horses through the years, and countless trips with his son on his ’50 and ’58 Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Everett and his father ran Blake’s Dairy Farm until the mid-1950s, supplying milk for Hood. He also worked at Thurston’s Grain Store in Danville Junction and at H.L. Forhan Co., canning beans, corn and blueberries. Mr. Blake used his skill as a truck mechanic for Lane Construction at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Merrill Transport, 14 years as the mechanic at L.C Andrews in South Windham, and 15 years as head mechanic at the Maine Correctional Facility in South Windham before retiring in 1987. He then worked for Jerry Dupont Excavating and, at age 78, was a spare driver for the New Gloucester Highway Dept.

Everett was a 50-year member of the Improved Order of Red Men, like his father Fred and Fred’s father, Herbert. He served on the New Gloucester Fire Department, and was a life member of the New Gloucester Historical Society. He was also a charter member of the Royal River Riders Snowmobile Club, riding thousands of miles on his ’69 Ski-Daddler and ’75 John Deere around town and “upta” Eustis. In his 70s, he snowmobiled the Gaspe Peninsula and Yellowstone National Park with his friend, Jerry Dupont.

He and his father loved exploring the back roads of Maine in his ’61 Scout. Stories would be told of fun times at the hunting camp in Lagrange. Ev and his wife Dot would travel the state with their camper and take photographs of every post office they could find, right up until her passing in 1999. They especially enjoyed setting up their camper beside his brother Herb’s and sister Mannie’s at Winslow Park in Freeport, home of the annual Blake Family Reunion, at which he was always the lobster cooker.

In 2002, high school sweetheart Sarah Turner returned his class ring, but after her visit their relationship was rekindled. Everett eventually joined Sarah at her home in Lakeland, Fla., where they would play dominoes and black queen, and watch skydivers at Zephyrhills. It was with mixed feelings that he returned to his beloved home after her death in March, 2010.

One of his favorite pastimes was playing cribbage. He was proud to finally get a “28” hand while playing with neighbor Steve Clark. Ev loved his Dalmatians over the years: Jeff, Tuffy, and Captain X, and was especially fond of his latest companion, a Weimaraner named Calvin, who will surely miss his Gramp. Everett will also be missed by his breakfast buddies at Mario’s Restaurant.

Everett was also predeceased by sisters, Ruth and Hazel; and brother, Herbert.

He is survived by his daughter, Joanne Hutchison (and Jerry Dupont) of New Gloucester; his son, Everett Philip Blake of New Gloucester; sisters, Colleen (and Richard) Anderson of Deltona, Fla., and Madaline Emerson of Windham; cousin, Albert Gilmore of Scituate, Mass.; brother in law, Edwin (and Jean) Libby of New Gloucester; special former daughter-in-law, Lorraine Blake of Poland; former son-in-law, Timothy Hutchison of Gray; five grandchildren: Thomas (and Shelley) Blake of New Gloucester, Daniel (and Keya) Hutchison of Troy, N.Y., Angela Blake of Colchester, Vt., Tamara (and Josh) Zech of Litchfield, Diana Hutchison (and Jesse Pollock) of Fla., and five great-grandchildren: Isaac, Acadia, Aubrey, Lorelei and George; as well as many nieces and nephews.