STETSON – Richard Owen Leighton, 70, died unexpectedly July 9, 2011, at a Bangor hospital. He was born July 4, 1941, in Stetson, the son of Donald W. and Cynthia E. (Savage) Leighton.
He lived on the family farm on the Wolfboro Road all his life. He and his brother, Robert, were cattle dealers for several years. Richard did most of the talking and all of the “dickering.” The three brothers, Robert, Richard and Clyde, started dairy farming in 1976. When they finished dairy farming Richard and his brothers purchased a portable sawmill unit and sold lumber ever since. Richard always enjoyed working in the woods, cutting and yarding logs and firewood with his ATV. In his younger years, Richard loved pulling draft ponies, a passion he inherited from his father who pulled draft horses all over the state.
Richard enjoyed deer hunting all his life. Despite numerous debilitating medical problems for the last several years, he was always in good spirits and refused to give up, always doing whatever he could to help out.
Richard is survived by two brothers, Clyde Leighton of Stetson and Charles Leighton and his wife, Janet, of Stetson; and two sisters, Charlene Leighton of St. Albans and Rose Tenny of Dexter. Although he never married, Richard loved all children, especially all his nieces and nephews. He is also survived by one aunt and several cousins. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Robert; and his sister, Rebecca.
Graveside services will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at Clarke Hill Cemetery, Stetson, with the Rev. Ernest Campbell officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Service Center, 34 High St., Newport. To sign an online guest book and leave written condolences and tributes, please visit:
www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com.