David E. Gammon

PERU – David E. Gammon “Gramp”, 66, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at home on the farm on the Gammon Road, one of his most favorite places to be.

Born in Rumford on March 17, 1959, he was the son of Warren and Anna (Barnett) Gammon. David was a 1978 graduate of Rumford High School where he attended night school after being married and becoming a dad.

David held a variety of jobs throughout his life including: working on the family farm; working in the Gammon slaughter house; working at a meat packing plant; being a scrap metal “junkie” filling the yard with “treasures;” cutting wood with both his oxen and a skidder; and serving as road commissioner for the towns of Peru and Canton. He was also a former member of the Peru Fire Department.

David was raised in an ox-pulling family, pulling cattle with his father, Warren, and his brother, Zack. This was a tradition he loved passing on to his daughters and grandchildren and was already teaching his young great-grandchildren the “language” of the sport. He was happy at the fairs throughout Maine and loved shooting the bull with ox and horse teamsters over the years. David was a member and director of the Pine Tree Steer and Ox Association serving as Vice President for over 20 years. He was also a member and director of the Maine Draft Horse and Ox Association and a member of the New England Ox Association.

David served as assistant pulling superintendent at many of the fairs, being known as one who ran a “by the book” pull– no matter who you were, he would hold you to the “rules of the pull.” He had many teamster friends including his dear friends, Stacy and Brett McConkey and Mountain Momma (Marlene) and so many others too numerous to name. Please know that he treasured each friendship.

David cherished the times he traveled to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia for the International Ox and Horse Pulls. The people he met became instant friends and family who he loved keeping in contact with- seeing many of them at the Oxford 250 or in the fall at the Cumberland Fair for the International Pulls.

David was an avid hunter, another tradition he passed on to his girls, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He taught the kids how to sit still and make no noise in the woods or they learned what the crumbled-up newspaper treatment was or how to stay put until he would come back for them. He participated in 20-plus moose hunts over the years and was a member of Maine’s Big Buck Club. David also enjoyed fishing and trapping. One step into the family home, you can see the collection of mounts scattered about on the walls and shelves, each one giving David the opportunity to “tell the story.”

David enjoyed many other activities over his lifetime. He raced stock cars at Oxford Plains Speedway in the figure eight and street stock divisions. He enjoyed watching Nascar, baseball, football and cattle auctions. David loved his morning calls with Bimbo, chatting with his nephew, Kyle, and his sister, Tammy, and texting buddies on his smartphone. He was also a new side by side adventurer.

David was married in Dixfield on Dec. 26, 1976 to Brenda E. Swan of Dixfield, and with that union became a member of a large and loving family. As a young couple, David and Brenda worked hard to provide for their girls and build a family and home he was so proud of. With 48 and half years of marriage under his belt, he always said- “It’s a 50/50 deal – Brenda gives the orders and I take them.” David would say his most precious treasure was his family. He was the happiest when everyone was gathered at the farm. His daughters, Amy and Julie, were the loves of his life; well, until his five grandchildren, Amber, Katelyn, Gage, Colton and Anthony came into his life. Becoming a grandfather, he said, made him a better man. He lived to make them happy and be engaged in their activities. And then David became a great-grandfather. Warren, Hazel and River brought him even more joy. His family was his world, and he loved each one and was so proud of all their accomplishments. He always wanted to know what they were up to and never missed the opportunity to tell them to be careful and that he loved them.

David is survived by his wife, Brenda of Peru; daughters Amy Gammon Smith of Dixfield and Julie Gammon Carlow and husband Todd of Peru with whom he made a deal with that there would be no returns when he married Julie; his five grandchildren, Amber Ferris, Katelyn Carlow (Kody), Gage Smith (Ari), Colton Carlow (Ryleigh) and Anthony Smith (Jaycie); his three great-grandchildren, Warren and Hazel Bellegarde and River Moretto; his sister, Tammy Gammon Stevens and partner Rick; and his beloved farm animals, including his oxen Tom and Joe and his farm hand, Diesel Dog.

David was predeceased by his parents; his brother; his grandparents; his in-laws; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Following a private family gathering at Meader and Son Funeral Home, a public graveside service will be held at the Demerritt Cemetery in Peru on Sunday, June 29, at 1 p.m. Family and friends are invited and encouraged to gather at the farm (115 Gammon Rd., Peru) following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to

Brenda Gammon

P.O. Box 143

Peru, ME 04290

which will be used for a future memorial pull in David’s name.