Gerald Edwin Wiles ^426,8247

Bangor Daily News
Bangor, Maine
October 7, 2010

Gerald Edwin Wiles

WILTON and RANGELEY - Gerald Edwin Wiles, 74, died Tuesday morning, Oct. 5, 2010, shortly after arrival at Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington. He was a man of courage, having undergone extensive surgery recently at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, in an attempt to extend the quality of his life.

Better known as Gerry, he was born Oct. 15, 1935, in Guilford, a son of Carroll and Winifred (Blakeney) Wiles. His mother died when he was just 2 weeks old from complications of childbirth, and his father and paternal grandmother, Gertrude Dunham Wiles, died together in a winter accident on Sebec Lake, leaving he and his elder brother, John Eldon Wiles, orphaned. They were blessed to be raised by their loving maternal grandparents, Conway and Luella May (Steeves) Blakeney, in Dover-Foxcroft.

He was a 1954 graduate of Foxcroft Academy and in his youth enjoyed playing basketball for Foxcroft Academy Ponies. At an early age his love of the great outdoors was fostered by his uncle Charlie Steeves, as well as a host of Canadian relatives, where he spent many happy summers; the two would hunt, fish and tend to the beehives. His best friend, Wayne Eldridge, was like a brother, and they shared a love of one of God's greatest gifts, the great outdoors.

At 14, he began working at Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft, washing vehicles, mowing lawns and serving as an extra driver for the combination funeral home / ambulance service. He always felt compelled to help those in emotional need or physical pain, and carried that inner drive to his next life adventure, the armed services. He proudly served this country as a member of the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany as a medic. Upon discharge, he used the GI Bill to continue his education at New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, Boston, from which he graduated in 1959.

On April 26, 1958, he married Roma Lou Kent of Fort Fairfield. Together they tried to comfort others through his work as a funeral director and hers as a registered nurse. He served his apprenticeship at Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft; Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle; and Lord Funeral Home, Norridgewock. In 1962 he and his young family moved to Wilton, where he was employed for Robert Edwards at Edwards Funeral Home. In 1971 they purchased the funeral home from Robert and Jane Edwards and with his entrepreneurial drive, purchased the former Rural Health Associates Building on Route 133, Jay, in 1981. In 1985 the family purchased Keegan Funeral Home, formerly known as Hawthorne Funeral Home, on Route 2 and Route 27, Farmington, and in 1994, transitioned the Keegan Funeral Home business in Dixfield. In the mid-1960s he started a monument and marker sales and cleaning service and happily, for well more than 30 years, attended Farmington Fair, where he "manned the booth" in the Starbird Building.

With a keen dedication to quality health care and community betterment, he spent countless hours collaborating with many for the relocation of Franklin Memorial Hospital, serving Franklin County, northern Androscoggin County and parts of Oxford County. He was chairman of the building committee during the original building phase and shared that honor with his wife, Roma, who at the same time served as president of Franklin Memorial Hospital, Hospital Auxiliary. He was a member of Williamson Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Wilton Masonic Lodge No. 156, Kora Temple Shrine and Western Mountain Shrine Club. He was a past president of Jay / Livermore Falls Rotary Club, and was a member of Wilton Chamber of Commerce and Wilton Lions Club.

He enjoyed trips with family and friends to Hawaii; Branson, Mo.; Florida; Canada; and Anticosti. He enjoyed many adventures at the family hunting camp in Atkinson, close to his childhood stomping grounds, where he enjoyed hunting and snowmobiling. There were many memorable bird hunting trips to Macannamac Camps at Haymock Lake and a very unique 2002 moose hunt that found his wife spending quality summer weekends studying for her hunter safety permit. He loved playing cards, hunting with the boys, fishing, tending to his outdoor yard work and gardens, collecting antiques, working on jigsaw puzzles, feeding the birds in his orchard, teaching his grandchildren how to play cribbage and following the many and varied activities of his family members. He was excited and honored to watch the growth and development of his grandchildren. His children are privileged to call him father, colleague, mentor and friend.

A man of integrity and grace, he was blessed with many wonderful friendships. Gerry is loved by his wife of 52 years, Roma K. Wiles of Wilton and Rangeley; their daughter, Rhonda Ann Wiles-Rosell and her husband, Kurt, of Farmington; their son, Kent Conway Wiles and his wife, Susan "Suzie" Boyce Wiles, of Wilton and Rangeley; three grandchildren, Adam Emery Wiles-Rosell, Kristyn Audrey Wiles and Ashley Sarah-Lynn Wiles; two stepgrandsons, Thomas Haines and Mitchell Haines; his brother, John Eldon Wiles and his wife, Patricia Dewey Wiles, of Simsbury, Conn.; brother-in-law, Thomas F. Kent and his wife, Joan Daigle Kent, of Madawaska; sister-in-law, Betty Ann Kent-Conant and her husband, Thomas Conant, of Fort Fairfield; cousins, Richard Meisner and his wife, Roxanne, of Kissimmee, Fla., and Beverly Wolfe of Dover-Foxcroft; nephews, Mark E. Wiles and his wife, Julie, of Canton, Conn., and T. Scott Kent and his wife, Shelley, of Fort Kent and Portland; niece, Gail Wiles Trafton and her husband, Scott Trafton, of Cumberland; a great-niece and several great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his in-laws, Thomas Emery and Hazel (Durepo) Kent; a nephew, Bruce Dewey Wiles; twin aunts, Mary Anna Blakeney and Anna Mary Meisner and her husband, Burton Meisner; as well as some very dear friends with whom he is reunited.

Family and friends are invited to call 3-7 p.m. Friday at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Route 2 and Route 27, Farmington, where public Masonic services, conducted by Wilton Masonic Lodge AF & AM No. 156, will be held 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Wiles Remembrance Center with the Rev. Gary Akeley officiating. Private family committal services with full military honors provided by CampKeyes will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Rangeley.

Those who desire may give remembrance gifts to Operation Santa, care of Western Maine Community Action, WMCA, P.O. Box 200, East Wilton, ME 04234 or Chamber of Commerce Holiday Food Basket Program, 248 Wilton Road, Farmington, ME 04938. It would be Gerry's personal request that wherever you are, whenever you can, do so much for a child as is possible by sharing your time, talents and values. Tributes and condolences may be shared with his family and friends at www.wilesrc.com.

  Events

• He had a residence in Wilton, Franklin County, Maine.

Gerald married Living