VASSALBORO – It is with great sadness and a heavy heart we regret to inform you Floyd Lewis Reynolds passed away peacefully March 13, 2012, with his longtime companion, Marion Dunivan, by his side. Floyd was born April 26, 1925, in Norway, Maine, son of Arthur Reynolds and Sadie Ercel McAllister.
Floyd attended Mechanic Falls High School, then proudly served our country during World War II in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1944. On Jan. 19, 1945, he married Dorothy Evelyn Brown, and in December of that year they welcomed their only child, Marjorie. After leaving the Navy, Floyd worked for S.D. Warren paper mill in Gardiner for 20 years and later became the shop foreman for Maine State Museum, Augusta, until his retirement in 1985. After retirement he fulfilled two lifetime dreams, three months traveling through Alaska and visiting the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. He was an avid outdoorsman and a former registered Maine guide. He enjoyed four-wheeling, hunting, fishing, ice fishing and snowmobiling. He was a great gardener and most of all loved spending as much time as possible at his camp on Rangeley Lake. Floyd, being such a talented master carpenter, was commissioned by Gov. James Longeley to build a French provincial china cabinet for display in the Blaine house. Floyd also built four homes for his family along with being a “master of all trades.” Floyd enjoyed tending to his orchards in Pittston and Dixmont. He grew apples, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and even tried his hand at Maine oranges. He was a certified Maine beekeeper, and harvested his own maple syrup. He loved to teach others his craft, be it fishing on Rangeley Lake or grafting an apple tree to grow four varieties on one tree. Floyd served twice as master of Dresden Lodge No. 103, was a member of Scottish Rites of Maine, and then became a member of Kora Shrine. He was a member of Gardiner Lions Club, The Lucky Point Snowmobile Club, The Dixmont Goldcrest Riders, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars; and a founding member of Camp HA, Dixmont, along with two of his best friends Bud Smith of Farmingdale, and Dale Stubbs of Augusta.
Above all else Floyd most enjoyed being surrounded by his family and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Brown Reynolds, in 2001; brother, Ivan “Bud” Reynolds; sister, Dot Plummer; and brother, George Reynolds. He is survived by a sister, Joyce Crane of Poland; brother, Richard Beal of Windham; sister, Karen Hudnall of Texas; beloved friend and companion, Marion Dunivan of Dixmont; daughter, Marjorie Chaplin and husband, Merle, of Auburn; four grandchildren, Kim St. Amand and husband, Rick, of Vassalboro, David Jackson Jr. of Chelsea, Sharon Jackson Jasper of Winthrop and Todd Jackson of Pittston; four great-grandchildren, Timothy Farnsworth of Haverhill, Mass., Joshua Folsom of Chelsea, Benjamin Farnsworth, currently serving in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Pensacola, Fla., and Baylee Grace Jackson of Pittston; many nieces, nephews and extended family in Mechanic Falls and Dixmont.
Per Floyd’s request, there will be no public visitation. A funeral service with full military honors will be held noon Monday, March 19, at the new Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta, conducted by Pastor Timothy Boone of Dixmont. A celebration of his life will be held immediately after the funeral services at American Legion Post 205, Route 17, Augusta; all are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, Floyd requested donations be made in his name to Dixmont Fire Department, attention Al Harrington, 1203 Moosehead Trail, Dixmont, ME 04932.