Russell Leonard Noyes

LEE - Russell Leonard Noyes, 91, passed away Jan. 14, 2010, at Colonial Acres Nursing Home, Lincoln. He was born May 12, 1918, in Topsfield, the son of Leonard Fogg Noyes and Alta Muriel Coffin. Russell was raised in Topsfield and attended school there until his family moved to Lee, when he was a teenager. He attended Lee Academy where he was an avid runner. In 1939, Russell married Kathleen Fitzhugh, and they had two children, Bonita Lee and Russell Lester. In 1965, he married Avis Bowers Bradbury, and became the stepfather to Douglas and Dean Bradbury. Russell made his living through various jobs, including ownership of a chicken farm and apple orchards in Sabattus, and while he lived in Lee, he owned his own truck where he hauled pulp. Upon retirement, Russell and Avis spent their winters in Zephyrhills, Fla., where Russell continued to work for several years as the boss of a crew of orange pickers. Russell lived life under his own terms and fully enjoyed several pursuits, including golfing, hunting and gardening. Russell bagged his first moose in 2003 at age 85, and he shot his last deer in 2006. Although Russell's health was declining in the last two years, it never stopped him from continuing to plant his garden where he grew a wide variety of vegetables, including potatoes, peas, carrots, turnips and pumpkins, just to name a few. Russell was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Pauline Saba and her husband, John; his stepson, Douglas; and his brother-in-law, Eddie LaBrie. In addition to his wife, Avis; his children, Bonita and Russell; his stepson, Dean and daughter-in-law, Frances; and his daughter-in-law, Nancy Bradbury, Russell leaves behind a large family who loved him dearly: his sister, Irene LaBrie of Worcester, Mass.; his grandchildren, Lorri Ann Curran of Florida, Mary Blanchard of California, Jennifer Karszes of Georgia, Heidi Ceglady of Florida, Loralei Barclay of Topsham and Russie Noyes of Florida; as well as his stepgrandchildren, Karen Bradbury-Drapeau of Scarborough and Daniel Bradbury of Lincoln. He has several great-grandchildren, Brett Barclay, Ericka and Travis Shank, Jackson, Spencer and Joseph Karszes, Max Kuhn, Emma Ceglady, and Noah and Abigail Drapeau; and one great-great-grandchild, Kayleigh Shank. Graveside services will be held in the spring at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lee Baptist Church, Lee. Arrangements with Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. For an online guest register and to leave written condolences, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.