LINCOLN – Stephen Earle Libby, 78, of Bagley Mt. Road, Lincoln, passed away Tuesday morning, Nov. 26, 2013, at a Bangor health care facility. Stephen was the son of Dorothy and Donald York and Alton Libby.
Stephen proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant. While in the Marine Corps, Stephen served with the 1st Battalion 9th Marines 3rd Division, also known as the 1/9. During the Vietnam War, the 1/9 sustained the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history and earned the nickname of “The Walking Dead.” Stephen was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon along with his unit of the 1/9.
Stephen will be remembered by many as a very generous man. Helping those in need and putting forth concerns of others above his.
Stephen was a man that truly loved the land and nature. His lifelong dream was to have a beautiful farm with fish ponds and land with an abundance of wildlife. Stephen achieved this dream on Bagley Mountain. On a summer trip to his pond with a special friend, Stephen was quoted as saying “It’s not what you take with you when you leave this world behind; it’s what you leave behind when you go.”
Stephen is survived by his children and grandchildren, Susan Libby, Stephen Libby II, Stephen III, Jason and Gussie, Casey and Brian, Sherryl Albert and husband, Rick, Daniel and Angie, Nicholas and Ashley, Katrina and Jeremy, Scott Libby and Monica, Christopher, Chelsey, Scott II, and Cassidy, Sandra Larnard and husband, Jeffery, Joshua, Jennie, Jamie and Steven; along with the mother of his children, Nancy Libby of Sebring, Fla.; and by his two sisters, Beverly Doucette of Turner, and Elizabeth “Betty” Engstrom and husband, Leroy, of Hermon. Stephen is also survived by several great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, one affectionately known as “The Beaver Man.” Stephen leaves behind two special friends, one named “Bertha,” aka; his wood stove, that kept him warm for many cold winter nights and also David Smith, a caretaker of his farms.
Stephen’s wishes were to have no funeral services, but instead to have a dedication and celebration of his life held next 4th of July at the beautiful pond he built on his land on Bagley Mountain. All who knew and loved him are welcomed to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations or kind gestures may be made in Stephen’s memory to the Maine Veteran’s Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401.
Stephen Earle Libby
