Ben Conant

OAKLAND – Ben Conant, Norway native, retired state liquor inspector and volunteer fire fighter, U.S. Navy Class “A” Pipe Fitter, Chief Deputy of Oxford County Sheriff Office then later Chief of the Civil Division Oxford County Sheriff Office, hunter, fisherman, staunch MSEA union activist and much-loved, life-long Mainer, passed away at the age of 86 on Nov. 22, 2022 from congestive heart failure.

Ben was one of three children born to Stephen A. and Barbara Conant and the parent, with his late wife Muriel, of four children, one of whom, his beloved daughter Shari, predeceased him.

Not long before his death, Ben was well enough to go hunting for the last time. Accompanied by his friend Jon Longley, Ben got a deer. He also dressed it and packed the meat in the freezer, a ritual that had meaning for him his entire life.

Ben was also a pretty good cook. From 1970 – 2016 he worked part-time at the Fryeburg Fair from the first full week in October. He did the cooking for the security office at their cook shack. In October 1993 became head of security in the pulling ring and supervised six people.

Ben’s training included attendance at the Department of Educational and Cultural Services Chemical Dependency Prevention and Education Team Development Institute in 1977, 1984, and 1988, the Maine State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Conferences in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985 and the New England Institute of Alcohol Studies at the University of Maine/Orono in 1983. He served 56 years as a volunteer at the South Paris Fire Department, retiring as captain.

Ben loved NASCAR. He spent time at Oxford Plains Speedway and later at Loudon International Speedway working the infield for his good buddy Bob Bahre. He met many NASCAR drivers, of whom he had cherished photos. Since his death, his family has heard from friends that Ben was a bona fide “big shot at the speedways” where he got his friends and family in for free.

Ben is survived by his daughter, Billie Conant and husband Kevin Sweeney, daughter, Chrissy and husband Edward Gooldrup, son, Ben; sister, Barbara Linn and husband George Townsend, brother, Robert; son-in-law, Daryl Sherburne; in addition to seven grandchildren, Bryan, Brent, and Lisa Conant, Chad and CJ Conant, Justin Sherburne, Tia Sherburne and fiance Drew Florez; nine great-grandchildren; niece, Jo-Linn Tibbets, and nephews Steve and George Townsend; his friends Jon Longley, Mike Rabbit, Mark Rancourt, Steven Aldrich, Penny Whitney Asdorian, Eric Rollins, Bernard Bird and David Weeks.

He was predeceased by his lifelong friend, Clarence French. Last, but hardly least, Ben leaves behind his partner and great love, Carla Greenleaf. For the last seven years they lived in Oakland and enjoyed camping, traveling, gardening, and their cats Stretchy and Alice.

There will be a graveside service on June 3 at 1 p.m. at Riverside Annex in South Paris, followed by a celebration of his life at the South Paris Fire Station.