1948 – 2013

NORWAY — Richard “Rick” N. Cummings Sr., 65, of South Paris died Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Rumford on July 1, 1948, the son of Alfred D. and Frances L. Mellerup Cummings. Rick attended UMA. He married Marcia J. Campbell on July 4, 1996. In his younger years, Rick had been employed in various jobs; including farming, a shoe worker at the tannery, masonry, a salesman, a service station manager and a construction worker. At the time of his death he was the owner/operator of Cummings Contracting, a successful commercial framing and general building contracting business that employed many local carpenters. He gave people jobs and an opportunity to turn their lives around when no one else could see the good in them. Rick provided a means for education for several people within the community so they could have a successful life and career. He was a sincere, but firm employer, that truly cared about his employees and saw them as family. Rick was a loving and very devoted husband, he never left the house without an I love you and a note of thanks for sharing his life with him. He was caring, kind and compassionate, generous to those in need and very supportive of many organizations, including Oxford Fair, the Chamber of Commerce, Pine Tree Children’s Camp, Special Olympics, Stephens Memorial Hospital and many others. He loved his family more than anything else. He helped neighbors and family in whatever ways that were needed. His love of children’s causes, for any child that came to the door asking to make a sale, he made them feel like a great salesman and bought anything and everything from them.

He is survived by his wife, Marcia, of South Paris; his children, Richard N. Cummings Jr. and wife, Pam, of Otisfield, Nicole Tyler and husband, Rick, of Lewiston, Tova Cummings of Hoover, Ala., Bretta-Jean Cahela and husband, Lane, of Hoover, Ala., and David Hutchins of Dresden; grandchildren, Kaitlan Rourke, Ashley Oakman, Madison Oakman, Savannah Oakman, Nicolas Cummings, Dominique Hutchins, Kelsey Hutchins, Kyle Rainey, Keenan Tyler, Whitney Rice and Vera Lynn LeBlanc; great-grandchildren, Kaiden Lawson and Avery Lawson; his siblings, Brenda Lovering of Standish and Debbie Kennagh of Norway.

He was predeceased by his parents; and a sister, Joyce Cummings. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.