1957 – 2013

PORTLAND — Peter J. Simpson, 56, of Old Danville Road in Auburn, died Saturday, Oct. 26, after a short illness.

Pete was born in Lewiston on April 27, 1957, the son of Alfred J. and Mary G. (Mynahan) Simpson. He grew up in Minot and graduated from Edward Little High School in the Class of 1975. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1975-79. In 1983, he married his wife of 30 years, Dawn (Whitney), and together they raised four amazing children: Joseph, Andrew, Angela and John.

In 1988, he founded Simpson & Sons Paving Co. Pete was proud to have his dad, Fred; brother, Tom; and sons, Joe, Andrew and John, work with him on the job site; and his daughter, Angela, helped out in the office. He also worked alongside his father-in-law, Bob Whitney, at Beacon Sales Co. in Lewiston, and the two of them ran their own business — Ideal Tag-A-Long Trailer Sales — from 1992 to 2009. He was an honest and hard-working businessman.

Pete gave the best bear hugs ever. He was “Uncle Pete” to so many nieces and nephews … always managing to get the kids at family gatherings good and wound up, usually at the dismay of their parents. Pete was so proud of the accomplishments of his four children. His life changed forever on April 4, 2012, when he became a Grampa to Bryce Henry Simpson. For Pete, the sun rose and set around his beautiful grandson. He will be remembered for his kind, gentle nature, his humor and his honesty.

Pete is survived by his wife, Dawn; his three sons, Joseph of Westminster, Colo., Andrew and his wife, Lyndsey, of Minot and John of Auburn; daughter, Angela of Auburn; grandson, Bryce of Minot; brothers, Greg and his wife, Roxanne, of Minot, Brian and his wife, Nancy, of Hampden, Tad and his wife, Kim, of Poland, Dan and fiancée, Michelle, of Sabattus, Tom of Lewiston, Mark and his wife, Tareena, of Oxford and Patrick and his wife, Angela, of Arizona; his mother-in-law, Priscilla and her husband, Wendell Nason, of Auburn; father-in-law, Bob Whitney and his wife, Patty, of Lewiston; sister-in-law, Vaughan Gagne of Farmington; brothers-in-law, Greg Whitney and his wife, Linda, of Auburn, David Whitney and his wife, Kathy, of Auburn and Brian Whitney and his wife, Mary, of New Gloucester; and so many nieces and nephews who he loved so dearly.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Neil; and his brother-in-law, Vaughn Gagne.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.