1927 – 2014

NORWAY — Richard T. Ayer, 86, of 211 Ashton Road, Norway, died at his home surrounded by his loving family on Monday, May 5, following a brief illness.

Born in Norway on Oct. 16, 1927, he was the son of Theodore and Frances Adams Ayer. Educated in Norway schools, he went off to work in the woods as a logger at the age of 17, finishing his education while serving in the U.S. Army. After his military service, he worked in the woods for several years, then he went to work at A.C. Lawrence Tannery, where he started unloading hides from boxcars and ended up as plant manager.

Even after his retirement, he continued to work in the woods logging, had several sawmills in Tennessee, enjoyed metal-detecting for civil war artifacts and panning for gold at Swift River. He also enjoyed fly-fishing and hunting.

On May 22, 1971, he married the former Beulah Brown.

A member of American Legion, Post No. 82, he is survived by his loving wife of Norway; two sons, Jim Hamlin and wife, Elaine, of Hancock, N.H., and Kevin Brawn and wife, Deborah, of Fletcher, Okla.; four daughters, Linda and husband, George Young, of Norway, Brenda and husband, John Carroll, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Wanda and husband, Billy Piasecki, of Denver, Colo., and Karen and husband, Alan Bailey, of West Paris; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Ralph, and a sister, Evelyn Ivery.

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

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