John B. Colton Sr.

     COLTON, John B., Sr., 88, MAINE, December 30, 2014. 

    MAINE – John B. Colton, Sr., passed away December 30, 2014. He was born in Bangor, September 25, 1926, to Bernard Colton and Annabelle Josslyn. At a young age he moved to Portland where he grew up and spent his summers on the water in Casco Bay, a place he dearly loved. 
    John was a proud graduate of Deering High School and the University of Maine and would often sing the school songs.
    He served in World War II as an airplane mechanic which sparked his love of airplanes.
    John was proud that he had several jobs when he was a young boy including working at the Portland Public Library, delivering newspapers and an elevator operator at a Porteous, Mitchell and Braun in Portland. He and his young coworker found great joy in racing the elevators top to bottom. Unfortunately, their employer wasn’t as impressed and it was suggested that they find employment elsewhere!
    Over the years, John had a variety of businesses that ranged from owning a gas station, flooring company and janitorial business to being a real estate broker and appraiser until his retirement. He was also very civic minded, cared very much about Aroostook County and the State of Maine and considered it an honor and his duty to vote in every election.
    In his younger years, he enjoyed his fishing excursions with his good buddy, Pat Gagnon, to Cross Lake, Square Lake and Points Beyond. Dad was very fond of dogs and had many different breeds over his lifetime. He was particularly partial to beagles but all the dogs in the family were granddogs to him.
    A true New England sports fan, particularly the Red Sox, he loved rooting for the underdog.
    John was very proud of his family and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nannette; children, Mary Jane Willey and husband, Steven, of Alfred and Davenport, FL, John Jr. of Saco, Brian and wife, Laurie, of Caribou, Sarah Anderson of Old Orchard Beach, and Jennifer Bridges and husband, Matthew, of Presque Isle; grandchildren, Ashlee Parker and husband, Jarrod, of Alfred, Seth Willey of Westbrook, Luke Willey and wife, Lynn, of Raymond, Chelsea Colton of Oklahoma City, OK, Zoe Colton of Saco and Germany, Cassandra McQuade and husband, Travis, of Newton, NC, Paul Colton of Biddeford, Meaghan Ireland of Caribou, Samantha Anderson of Saco, Lindsay Anderson of Old Orchard Beach, Grant Bridges of Presque Isle, and William Bridges of Presque Isle; great-grandchildren, Addison McQuade, Lincoln Willey, and twins, Colton and Benjamin Parker. John is also survived by his brother, Charles Milan III of Brewer and Boynton Beach, FL; sister-in-law, June Smith of Veazie, sister-in-law, Mary Smith of Veazie; and several special nieces and nephews.
    He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Joan LaGasse.
    The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to C-A-N-C-E-R,
P.O. Box 811, Presque Isle, ME 04769 to help friends and neighbors battling this dreadful disease, or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Attention: Research, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 to help find a cure. A family memorial is scheduled for summer, 2015.