1927 – 2014

FARMINGTON — Ernest K. Bickford, 87, a resident of Jay, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Sandy River Center.

He was born in Industry on July 2, 1927, the fourth child of Alvin Bickford and Dora A. (Butterfield) Bickford. He was raised on the west side of Livermore, where he attended Riverside Grammar School. He graduated from Livermore Falls High School in 1946, following two years of employment at International Paper Co. in Chisholm. He attended the Auburn Maine School of Commerce, graduating from the accounting and business administration course.

Ernest served for two years in the 40th Division U.S. Army in Japan and Korea, and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He returned to the Maine School of Commerce for an advanced course in auditing.

Following graduation, he was employed by Maine Dowel Corp. in Farmington for 31 years, retiring when the business was closed as Production Planning Manufacturing. He also was employed by the audit division of the Department of Human Services, taking early retirement due to cancer.

On May 4, 1957, he married Gloria Mary Ann Boucher at St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay, and they resided in Farmington. He was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church, where he served as Eucharistic minister, organist and a president of the parish council and a member of the budget committee.

He was a member of the Bishop Bacon Council, Knights of Columbus, where he served as financial secretary, past grand knight and district deputy, as well as past faithful navigator of the Ambrose J. Berry District Assembly of the fourth degree. The family moved back to Jay, where he was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church and served as Eucharistic minister and a member of the Resurrection Choir, the Knights of Columbus third and fourth degree, and a life member of the VFW.

Following his recovery from cancer, he was active with Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice as a volunteer and later a member of the patient support team at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Ernest is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria Bickford, of Jay; their five children, Ann Louise Buckland and her husband, Andy, of Farmington, Mark F. Bickford and wife, Donna, of Jay, Susie E. Millett and husband, Steve, of Jay, John A. Bickford of Jay and Paul L. Bickford of Hull, Mass.; a sister, Sherry Phillips, of Wilton; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Eleanor Souther and Nellie Bickford; and his brother, Elmer Bickford.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sandy River for their wonderful care of Ernie.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

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