1932 – 2013

DIXFIELD — Kermit R. Houghton Sr., 81, of Dixfield Common Road, Dixfield, died peacefully at his home, March 9.

He was born on a farm in Carthage, Jan. 28, 1932, a son of Leo and Thelma Houghton and attended Carthage schools.

He then entered the military and was a member of the National Guard for 12 years and served the town of Carthage as a selectman for 10 years. He was a member of the Fire Department and was instrumental in the development of the first snowmobile club in Carthage.

He was employed as a welder at Oxford Paper and Bridge Construction Co. and later worked for Tom Dickson and Billy Skidgell as a truck driver and also was self-employed as a logger.

He owned and operated T&H Motor Sports, where he serviced chain saws and snowmobiles. This shop went hand in hand with some of Kermit’s favorite hobbies, which included racing stock cars at OPS, sponsoring his grandchildren, Tommy, Gunner, Tanya and Candy racing snowmobiles, and later his son and grandsons followed in his footsteps, racing at OPS in cars built and sponsored by E & K Motor Sports.

Kermit enjoyed hunting and fishing, gardening, taking care of his horse “Bucky” and tending his chickens.

He is survived by his wife, Emily Merril Houghton of Dixfield; son, Kermit Jr. of Carthage; daughters, Rhonda Storer and her husband, Nate, of Weld and Marlene Bradbury of Carthage; stepsons, Sonny “Kippy” Fletcher and his wife, Cathy, of Dixfield, Gilbert Fletcher and his companion, Diane, of Rumford, and Eddie Merril and his wife, Joyce, of Dixfield; a stepdaughter, Judith Robinson and her husband, Paul, of Las Vegas, Nev.; son-in-law, Gerald Walker of Carthage; four brothers, Emeral and his wife, Betty, Donald, Lawrence, and Charles and his wife, Frances, all of Carthage; sisters, June Turner of Carthage and Leola Poirier and her husband, Bob, of Norwich, Conn.; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Thelma Luce Houghton; a daughter, JoAnn Walker of Carthage; sisters, Arleta Clark and Corless Kemeraitis; and brothers, Leroy and Conrad.

The family would like to thank Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for the excellent care during Kermit’s final days.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

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