1954 – 2013

BETHEL, Vt. — Michael Louis Roy, 59, a former resident of Lewiston and Monmouth, died following a long illness on Friday, Dec. 6, at his home in Bethel, Vt., where he lived for the past three years.

Michael was born in Lewiston on Nov. 6, 1954, the firstborn son of Eugene R. Roy and Madeleine C. (Pare) Roy. He attended Holy Cross School and graduated from St. Dominic High School, Class of 1972. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

A pacifist at heart, he served in the Seabees Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in California, Mississippi, Guam and Diego Garcia. His working years, however, began at the age of 12, when he walked a long, rural paper route delivering the Lewiston Sun and Journal and The Grit for several years. He also — in season — worked haying, mowing lawns, raking leaves and in chicken coops for various Lewiston and Sabattus farmers.

Following his discharge from the U.S. Navy, Michael furthered his education and carpentry skills in the University of Southern Maine at Gorham’s construction program, and eventually he used this construction training to open a business of his own, Down to Earth Carpentry. A very skilled carpenter, he was later employed by local building contractors and fence installing companies.

While employed in the maintenance department at USM’s L-A College, he enrolled in the arts and humanities program. An artist at heart, he excelled in story writing, poetry, journaling and creative arts in various mediums. Many of us have been the recipients of his very unique art pieces or walking sticks.

In November 1981, he married Caroline Biagotti and together they had one son. Michael later married Terri Fraser. Sometimes considered by others to be a man who marched to the beat of a different drummer, Michael had an acute awareness, love of and a deep respect for nature in all its forms. Sunrises and sunsets stirred special emotions and memories for him, and he made it a point to watch as many as he could wherever he might be.

He had a unique wit, a very sentimental and sensitive nature, a great sense of pride in his son’s accomplishments and a need for solitude, yet all the while loving contact with family. He enjoyed long, solitary walks, writing poetry, Bob Dylan’s music, the ocean, the mountains, baking bread and aviation in all its aspects.

Michael is survived and mourned by his mother; a son, Benjamin Roy Davison, of Hoffman Estates, Ill.; sisters, Marie Roy of Falmouth and Leah and husband, Nicholas Hersom, of Lewiston; brothers, Daniel of Lewiston, Francis and wife, Darlene, of Poland, Dominic and wife, Juanita, of Oxford, Timothy and companion, Laurie Goodwin, of Litchfield, Gregory and wife, Marsha, of Wayne, John and wife, Sarah, of Portland, Ore., and Stephen of Kent, Ohio; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his father; a brother, David P.; nephews, Adam Dominic Roy and Matt Fitch; and his recent companion, Marie Sabino.

Sincere thanks and gratitude from our family go to all those who walked Mike’s journey with him, namely the staff at the Veteran Victory Farm in New Hampshire, where he lived for two years; the many doctors who treated him through the years in various VA hospitals in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont; his social workers, especially Carrie Russ; and the VNA nurses and all of his other caretakers.

Your long struggle is over, Michael. May you enjoy a perpetual sunset and experience the peace that you so desperately sought throughout your life’s journey.

Condolences, donations and a video tribute may be accessed online at www.albert-burpee.com.