Thomas William "Bill" Gordon II

Calais – Thomas William “Bill” Gordon II, 91, passed away Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth. Bill was born in Calais on August 8, 1926, son of Thomas William Gordon I and Helen (Flagg) Gordon.

After graduating Calais Academy in 1943, Bill worked various jobs including working on planes for the Army Air Corps in Presque Isle. In 1946 he married his love, Mary Carter. Bill started working for Peterson Garage, which eventually became J.D. Thomas. In 1974, he purchased the J.D. Thomas Inc, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2001.

Bill was a 50+ year member of St. Croix Lodge No. 46 A.F. & A.M. in Calais, St. Croix Chapter No. 17 Royal Arch Masons, St. Croix Council No. 11, Hugh De Payens Commandery No. 15 Knights Templar, Anah Temple Shrine in Bangor, both Washington County and Charlotte County Shrine Club, Royal Order of the Jesters, Lion’s Club in Calais where he was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, Odd Fellows, First Congregational Church in Calais where he served as Treasurer, and served on the board for Calais Federal, where he served as Chairman for many years.

Bill enjoyed dancing with his beloved wife Mary, salmon fishing with Dead River Co. in the Miramichi, vacationing in Florida, was an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan, and spending time on Meddybemps Lake boating and riding his Seadoo with his miniature collie. Above everything, his most cherished moments were those he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his wife of over 70 years, Mary Gordon; a grandson, Thomas William Gordon IV; and three sisters, Pauline, Eleanor and Helen. Surviving are his three sons, T. William Gordon III, Robert Gordon and wife Linda of Meddybemps, and Carl Gordon and wife Debbie of Meddybemps; four grandchildren, Lorie Crawford and husband Tim of St. Stephen, NB, Robert Gordon II of Calais, Carl Gordon II of Brewer, and A1C Amanda Gordon Patterson, U.S.A.F. of Dover, DE; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Abigail Crawford; a sister-in-law Joan Corey of Marlborough, MA; special family friend Sherry Bell of VA; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Meddybemps Cemetery. Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Calais Lions Santa’s Helper, PO Box 1280, Calais, ME 04619. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.

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