AUBURN – Harold M.
Bessey passed away peacefully at the age of 84 at the Androscoggin Hospice House on Dec. 21, 2021. He was born on Nov. 30, 1937, in Rumford Corner, the son of the late Merton I. and Ava Stearns Bessey.
He graduated from Stephens High School in 1957. He completed one year at Southern Maine Technical College in their carpentry program.
Harold married Alberta “Pat” Coolidge, and they enjoyed 62 years together. They resided in the home that Harold and his grandfather built in Rumford Corner.
He worked 17 years on his father’s potato farm until it was sold in 1971. Then he went to work for the State of Maine Department of Transportation. He retired in 1997 after 25 years with the DOT and then went back and worked summers with the DOT for another 10 years.
Harold loved the outdoors and took great pride in his large garden. He also loved hunting, fishing, and tying flies. He liked to tease and play jokes on people.
Survivors include his wife, Alberta; daughters Barbara Bessey from Billings, Mont., Bonnie Hutchins and husband John from Standish, son, Walter Bessey and wife Christy from Lebanon, Ohio; grandchildren Matthew Hutchins, Andrew Bessey, Kayce Lawyer-Bessey, and Katelyn Seward and husband Donovan; great-granddaughter, Addie Seward; brothers-in-law Robert Houghton, Robert Coolidge, and Philip Coolidge and wife Linda.
He was predeceased by his parents; sister, Adelia Houghton, brother, Irving Bessey and wife Norma; grandsons Craig Hutchins and Jordan Bessey; father-in-law, Leland Coolidge, mother-in-law, Louise Coolidge; sisters-in-law Serena Inman and Cynthia Cox.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at Meader and Son Funeral Home, 3 Franklin St., Rumford with a time of visitation from 12:30 to 2 p.m. prior to the service. Masks will be required. Interment will be in the spring at East Bethel Cemetery.
Online condolences may be shared with his family at http://www.meaderandson.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Androscoggin Hospice House
236 Stetson Rd.
Auburn, ME 04210
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