James A. Wood

James (Jim) Arthur Wood
1937 - 2015
KENNEBUNK - James (Jim) Arthur Wood, 77, of Kennebunk, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. He was born in Augusta, on Sept. 17, 1937, the son of Frank Wood and Mildred (Savage) Wood. James attended Cony High School in Augusta. He was a loving husband to his wife, Joan (Breton) Wood, for 58 wonderful years. They lived in Manchester, where they raised their two children and owned and operated Wood's Feed and Saddlery, for 26 years. They raised and showed appaloosas and quarter horses throughout New England.
Jim was a hardworking family man who loved the outdoors. He and Joan were best of friends and loved to bicycle and canoe and always had a project or two around the house. He worked as a carpenter for years and always had the true Yankee do- it-yourself attitude. But, he also knew how to relax and enjoy the beauty surrounding him; sitting outside with a book any chance he got, watching the birds and animals.
In their retirement, Jim and Joan enjoyed many years living near the ocean in Boothbay Harbor and Nokomis, Fla.; the past few years, in Kennebunk.
He will be sadly missed by his son, Brian Wood of Cumberland, and daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Michael Heikkinen of Deerfield, NH. Five grandchildren will miss hearing Papa tell stories from the past: Ryan Raynes of Honolulu, Hawaii, Marissa Heikkinen, of Concord, NH, Camdyn Heikkinen, of Deerfield, NH, and Katherine and Grady Wood of Cumberland. Jim's sister, Sara Harriman and her husband Dan, live in Mount Vernon. Brother-in-law, Norman Breton, resides in Augusta. He has several nieces and nephews.
In honor of the quiet lifestyle Jim loved, his family plans to celebrate him with a simple gathering on the seashore. There will be no formal service or visiting hours.