PRESQUE ISLE – Stephen William Naas, 96, died Oct. 25, 2011, surrounded by his children, after a long and full life with many friends. He was born June 6, 1915, in Sherman Station, son of Spurgeon and Nellie (Robinson) Naas.
Steve graduated from Sherman High School in 1934 during the heart of the Depression. As work was hard to find, in October 1934 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he worked as part of the forestry department on road construction in New Hampshire until August 1936. Having played baseball in high school, he participated in the CCC camp baseball team, where he was “spotted” and invited to pitch a game for the semi-professional North Conway team against the Portland Shells. He held them to one hit through four innings before being “batted out of the box.” His love of baseball continued throughout his life, including watching the World Series game the night before his passing. After leaving the CCC, he worked a variety of jobs, including harvesting potatoes, working in the woods and in the general store in Sherman Station. In 1939, Steve headed to Lincoln, Neb., to attend Lincoln Airplane and Flying School where he became a registered pilot and began a lifelong love of aviation. In October 1940 he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to Mitchell Field, N.Y. In 1942, he was appointed to the aviation cadets as a pilot. In January 1943 he was appointed as second lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve where he piloted the B-24 Liberator and the B-26 Marauder for which he and his family were always proud. Though too shy to talk to her in high school, after a chance meeting at the train station followed by a correspondence courtship, Steve married Rebecca “Beckie” Jane Gould, Nov. 27, 1943, in Savannah, Ga. Their wonderful marriage brought much joy to them and their family for the next 67 years. After the war, the couple returned to Maine to begin their family. He graduated from Husson College in May 1951, and the young family moved to Presque Isle in 1952 where he was employed by Maine Potato Growers, Inc. and later Farm Credit Bureau as an outstanding accountant. A longtime member of Bethany Baptist Church, he served many church roles including lay preacher, president, treasurer and Sunday school teacher. His deep faith and the love of his church family served him well his entire life. Steve and his family and friends spent many happy times hunting and fishing at their camp on Pratt Lake. After they retired, he and Beckie traveled to Hawaii on the 50th wedding anniversary, enjoyed two trips to Europe, and a special summer in Alaska. Steve is known by his many friends and acquaintances as a storyteller who could relate his memories with impressive detail. During his retirement years he became interested in his genealogy. He authored and published “The Naas Family of Nova Scotia” about his family and also wrote a history of his mother’s family. Most recently he found that his family could be traced back to the Mayflower.
Steve was predeceased by his parents in 1959; his wife, the love of his life, Beckie, Oct. 3, 2010; brother, Harry W. Naas; and his sister, Freida D. Naas. Stephen is survived by his beloved sons, Paul S. Naas of Windham, and Martin J. Naas and his wife, Margaret, of Gardiner; grandsons, Jonathan P. Naas and his wife, Carrie, of Beaumont, Texas, and Stephen L. Naas and his wife, Laura, of Gardiner and their mother, Linda Libby Eaton of Falmouth; stepgranddaughters, Kristin and Kayla Marks of Gardiner; great-grandchildren, Lauren and William Naas of Beaumont, Texas, and Madeline and Carter Naas of Gardiner; brother, Sylvester D. Naas and his wife, Bennie, of Mountainside, N.J.; several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends may call 1 p.m. until the time of funeral services 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Bethany Baptist Church, Second Street, Presque Isle, with the Rev. James Ackerson officiating. Interment with military honors will be at Fairmount Cemetery, Presque Isle. Those who wish may make donations in his memory to Bethany Baptist Church, 24 Second St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Online condolences may be expressed at
www.duncan-graves.com.
STEPHEN WILLIAM NAAS
