1946 – 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Donald Roy Poussard Sr., of Melbourne, Fla., passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 2, at the age of 68.

Donald was born in Lewiston on Jan. 15, 1946, to Arthur and Fran Poussard of Sabattus. He married his childhood sweetheart, Susan Dale Hanson, on Nov. 1, 1965, and they were blessed with five loving children.

Donald was a fourth-degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He served in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Norfolk, Va. He was a long-standing member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 4, serving on the board of trustees and was a union organizer for all of New England. He was also very highly respected for his knowledge and abilities as a crane operator, making sure safety was always a priority. He was an owner and operator of several local businesses, including Poussard’s Service Station in Sabattus, Poussard’s Auto Sales — in partnership with his younger brother, Reggie, and Route 132 Auto Sales in Sabattus. He also proudly served as president of the Maine Used Car Dealers Association.

Holding more than 275 jobs over his short lifetime, he gathered immense knowledge and experience, which allowed him the ability to teach many life lessons to his family, friends and all who came in contact with him. Having a conversation with this great man often resulted in the sharing of a life lesson. He offered inspiration, values, lessons learned, integrity, appreciation and dedication, willful intuition, morals, a passion for perseverance and, if nothing more, the inspiration to “strive for excellence.” He was a family man who was known to often say “a man is not a man if he doesn’t take care of his family” and “we are all God’s little children.”

Donald lived by example, always putting his family first. He gave you his opinion whether you liked it or not, because even if it wasn’t something that you wanted to hear, it was something you needed to hear. This is something he was never shy about. He truly loved and cared about people and was a truly giving man. This lion of a man, who could not be swayed from his beliefs, was a loving man like no other.

Donald is survived by the love of his life — his wife, Susan; their five children, Julie Milliken and her husband, Shane, Carol Milliken and her husband, Kevin, Cherie Leblanc and her husband, Tom, Donald Poussard Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, and David Poussard and Jami; and 14 grandchildren: Eric and wife, Stacy, Taylor and Noah; Abby and Emily; Katelyn and Matthew; Donald III, Haley, Sierra, Skylar and Alexis; and Jack and Sam. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, Ryder and Michael, and a third arriving this fall; six brothers and sisters and their spouses, Arthur Jr. and Teri, Rayne and Connie, Dottie and Al, Reggie and Claire, Sue and Leo and Diann and Jim; along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews, and their families.

Donald was an exceptional man with an infectious laugh, whose family adored him. “Papa Poussard” will be greatly missed by all.