Gerard Bernard Guay

FARMINGTON -- Gerard B. Guay, 86, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at Edgewood Rehabilitation and Living Center, after a long illness.

A lifelong resident of Bingham, he was born on Sept. 1, 1922, in Jackman, the son of Rudolph and Alice (Sullivan) Guay. After graduating from Bingham High School in 1940, he worked at the Shipyard in Portland, where he met and later married Helen F. Cloutier on Nov. 14, 1942.

A World War II veteran, Gerard served in the Army for four years, reaching the rank of master sergeant. While serving, he and his wife traveled and resided in many places across the country.

He settled in Bingham with his wife, where they raised a family of four children. He was postmaster of Bingham for 29 years, retiring in 1978. After retirement, Gerard and Helen became proprietors of Olde Things Antique Shop in Bingham.

Active in the community, he was a member of the Valley Riders Snowmobile Club, St. Peter's Parish Council, a past commander of the American Legion Stanley Beane Post No. 99, local Chamber of Commerce, a Skowhegan Savings Bank corporator, president of the local fish and game club, Bingham Budget Committee, Lions Club, and chairman of the Bingham Union Library Board of Directors for more than 40 years. Gerard played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Bingham Area Health Center, Bingham Laundromat, banks in Bingham, and the Bingham Motor Inn (Maplewood Motel).

His many spare time pursuits included purchasing and remodeling many homes in the area, as well as hunting, snowmobiling, "puttering," and carpentry.

He was predeceased by three brothers, Francis, Charles and Edward Guay; and a special cousin, Dr. Jean Guay.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen of Farmington; son Jon and his wife, Lucy, of Lewiston; daughters, Janice Reed and her husband, Thomas, of Rumford, Catherine Swartz and her husband, Stephen, of Bowie, Md., and Ann Gordon and her husband, Wade, of Kingfield; sisters Pauline Guay, of Frederick, Md., and Bernadette Lancaster and her husband, Thomas, of Frederick; grandchildren, Scott Reed, Eric Reed, Jon C. Guay, Ryan Guay, Christopher Gordon, Emily Gordon, and Michael Swartz, and six great-grandchildren.

Heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Edgewood Rehabilitation and Living Center for their outstanding care.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Christ the King Parish, St. Peter's Church, Bingham. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.