Farmington-- Rodney C. Richard, Sr., one of Maine’s finest traditional artists, died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family, on April 14, 2015, in Farmington. Born on November 13, 1929, to William J. and Abbie (Calden) Richard of Phillips, he dedicated his life to his family and to the preservation of his logging heritage in the western Maine mountains.
After graduation from Phillips High School in 1948, he worked in the woods with his father and other local men. A forward thinker, he bought the first chain saw in the Phillips area, an IEL Pioneer. He entered the United States Army in 1951 during the Korean War and served in both the United States and Germany. He took leave to marry his sweetheart, Lucille Haley, on September 20, 1951, in Rangeley.
After his Army service, he and Mrs. Richard settled in Rangeley. Mr. Richard worked in the woods, cutting and hauling with horses. Then, in 1954, he bought a second-hand John Deere MC crawler tractor. In 1964, he began working on roads for Brown Company, at first, sanding them. Then, he began his own gravel business for roads work. In 1965, he bought his first skidder. He worked with Seven Islands for three years beginning in 1977 in their experimental logging program, thinning woodlots. In 1978, he sold his gravel business and went into logging full-time, helped by his sons and local men such as Earl Ross. In 1990, after selling much of his larger equipment in 1986, he retired from logging.
Mr. Richard was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Lucille (Haley) Richard, and by his brothers Allan Richard of Mexico and Mortimer Richard of Phillips. He is survived by his sons: Rodney C. Richard, Jr., and his wife Lenita of Pownal; John Richard of Rangeley; and Stephen Richard and his companion, Mary Garboski, of Rangeley; his brother Lewis Richard and his sister Winona (Richard) Davenport, both of Phillips, and his sister-in-law Jennie (McLafferty) Richard of Mexico; his many close friends all over the world; and his many, dear young friends who were like grandchildren to him, especially Meredith and David Hunter of Milton, MA.
Interment with full military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Rangeley. (Please see www.wilesrc.com or Central Maine 4/16/2015 for the complete obituary.)
After graduation from Phillips High School in 1948, he worked in the woods with his father and other local men. A forward thinker, he bought the first chain saw in the Phillips area, an IEL Pioneer. He entered the United States Army in 1951 during the Korean War and served in both the United States and Germany. He took leave to marry his sweetheart, Lucille Haley, on September 20, 1951, in Rangeley.
After his Army service, he and Mrs. Richard settled in Rangeley. Mr. Richard worked in the woods, cutting and hauling with horses. Then, in 1954, he bought a second-hand John Deere MC crawler tractor. In 1964, he began working on roads for Brown Company, at first, sanding them. Then, he began his own gravel business for roads work. In 1965, he bought his first skidder. He worked with Seven Islands for three years beginning in 1977 in their experimental logging program, thinning woodlots. In 1978, he sold his gravel business and went into logging full-time, helped by his sons and local men such as Earl Ross. In 1990, after selling much of his larger equipment in 1986, he retired from logging.
Mr. Richard was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Lucille (Haley) Richard, and by his brothers Allan Richard of Mexico and Mortimer Richard of Phillips. He is survived by his sons: Rodney C. Richard, Jr., and his wife Lenita of Pownal; John Richard of Rangeley; and Stephen Richard and his companion, Mary Garboski, of Rangeley; his brother Lewis Richard and his sister Winona (Richard) Davenport, both of Phillips, and his sister-in-law Jennie (McLafferty) Richard of Mexico; his many close friends all over the world; and his many, dear young friends who were like grandchildren to him, especially Meredith and David Hunter of Milton, MA.
Interment with full military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Rangeley. (Please see www.wilesrc.com or Central Maine 4/16/2015 for the complete obituary.)
Farmington-- Rodney C. Richard, Sr., one of Maine’s finest traditional artists, died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family, on April 14, 2015, in Farmington. Born on November 13, 1929, to William J. and Abbie (Calden) Richard of Phillips, he dedicated his life to his family and to the preservation of his logging heritage in the western Maine mountains.
After graduation from Phillips High School in 1948, he worked in the woods with his father and other local men. A forward thinker, he bought the first chain saw in the Phillips area, an IEL Pioneer. He entered the United States Army in 1951 during the Korean War and served in both the United States and Germany. He took leave to marry his sweetheart, Lucille Haley, on September 20, 1951, in Rangeley.
After his Army service, he and Mrs. Richard settled in Rangeley. Mr. Richard worked in the woods, cutting and hauling with horses. Then, in 1954, he bought a second-hand John Deere MC crawler tractor. In 1964, he began working on roads for Brown Company, at first, sanding them. Then, he began his own gravel business for roads work. In 1965, he bought his first skidder. He worked with Seven Islands for three years beginning in 1977 in their experimental logging program, thinning woodlots. In 1978, he sold his gravel business and went into logging full-time, helped by his sons and local men such as Earl Ross. In 1990, after selling much of his larger equipment in 1986, he retired from logging.
Mr. Richard was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Lucille (Haley) Richard, and by his brothers Allan Richard of Mexico and Mortimer Richard of Phillips. He is survived by his sons: Rodney C. Richard, Jr., and his wife Lenita of Pownal; John Richard of Rangeley; and Stephen Richard and his companion, Mary Garboski, of Rangeley; his brother Lewis Richard and his sister Winona (Richard) Davenport, both of Phillips, and his sister-in-law Jennie (McLafferty) Richard of Mexico; his many close friends all over the world; and his many, dear young friends who were like grandchildren to him, especially Meredith and David Hunter of Milton, MA.
Interment with full military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Rangeley. (Please see www.wilesrc.com or Central Maine 4/16/2015 for the complete obituary.)
After graduation from Phillips High School in 1948, he worked in the woods with his father and other local men. A forward thinker, he bought the first chain saw in the Phillips area, an IEL Pioneer. He entered the United States Army in 1951 during the Korean War and served in both the United States and Germany. He took leave to marry his sweetheart, Lucille Haley, on September 20, 1951, in Rangeley.
After his Army service, he and Mrs. Richard settled in Rangeley. Mr. Richard worked in the woods, cutting and hauling with horses. Then, in 1954, he bought a second-hand John Deere MC crawler tractor. In 1964, he began working on roads for Brown Company, at first, sanding them. Then, he began his own gravel business for roads work. In 1965, he bought his first skidder. He worked with Seven Islands for three years beginning in 1977 in their experimental logging program, thinning woodlots. In 1978, he sold his gravel business and went into logging full-time, helped by his sons and local men such as Earl Ross. In 1990, after selling much of his larger equipment in 1986, he retired from logging.
Mr. Richard was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Lucille (Haley) Richard, and by his brothers Allan Richard of Mexico and Mortimer Richard of Phillips. He is survived by his sons: Rodney C. Richard, Jr., and his wife Lenita of Pownal; John Richard of Rangeley; and Stephen Richard and his companion, Mary Garboski, of Rangeley; his brother Lewis Richard and his sister Winona (Richard) Davenport, both of Phillips, and his sister-in-law Jennie (McLafferty) Richard of Mexico; his many close friends all over the world; and his many, dear young friends who were like grandchildren to him, especially Meredith and David Hunter of Milton, MA.
Interment with full military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Rangeley. (Please see www.wilesrc.com or Central Maine 4/16/2015 for the complete obituary.)
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