David E. Kenyon

The family of David Edward Kenyon, 87, of Norridgewock, is devastated to announce his passing on April 1, 2025. After a brief illness, he passed as he wished, in the warm comfort of his home with his family embracing him. The children of David, all nine of them, want to thank their mother for enduring the unimaginable heartbreak she suffered every day as she cared for their very ill father and tried everything in her power to keep him alive. As the trains in his magical room downstairs have gone silent, so too has ended an extraordinary love story that people can only dream of and few will ever know. Their dad was a prince, after all, and the stuff of fairy tales. How lucky they were to live in his story.
David was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, May 18, 1937. He was the only child of Edward and Mary Kenyon. His childhood years were greatly influenced by two special uncles, one a musician and the other an artist and model train hobbyist. They shaped his life profoundly by fostering and encouraging his creativity and their influence impacted his entire life's journey. David was a trade school graduate and chose the career of auto body repair, a trade at which he was a natural talent.
When David was twenty, he met Marion Lea Farnham, the woman who would become his love and life partner for more than sixty-seven years. He would always remember how she looked that spring day when he met her on the "front porch on Front Street" in Waterville. They had a brief courtship and married on October 5, 1957. They made their home in Attleboro, Massachusetts for six years after which time they bundled up their three small children and an infant and headed to Maine for Dave's new job at Coe Chevrolet in Augusta. The family happily settled in Belgrade Lakes, Marion's childhood hometown, where their growing family made many precious and enduring memories with the families of that very sweet village.
In October of 1970, a new chapter of life began for the family when they moved to Clinton and into a brand-new home that David had built. There, he also constructed an auto body shop where he would eventually open his own business, later expanding into car sales as well.
In the 1980s, David decided he needed a career change and, in a nod to his lifelong love of trains, he took a position with the Maine Central Railroad. He valued his time there as well as the friendships he forged, and he always reflected fondly on that career move.
In the early 1990s David and Marion moved to New Mexico and lived there for three years. Ever a lover of creating things and not fearing change, Dave started a home building business. He took great pride in the beautiful houses he built, and it gave him great satisfaction to see people living in the spaces he made with his own hands.
When David and Marion returned to Maine for good, they settled i n Norridgewock. David retired from careers outside of the home and turned his attention to making his love of model trains into a business. His work was described formally as "superlative prototypical custom painting." He was a tour de force in that niche world and many people are the happy owners of his custom trains. If you have seen the holiday train village inside LL Bean in Freeport, you have likely seen his work.
Though we could list many more of David's talents here, like clarinetist, saxophonist, artist, athlete, etc., it is not these things he did that made him special. It is who he was that made him so. David lived the "golden rule." He believed in the goodness of people, and he loved his family and friends with absolutely no conditions. He chose not to complicate his life with structured religion or prescribed beliefs and yet he lived his life with strong personal convictions. He respected the right of everyone to walk a path of their own choosing, never imposing his own will. He believed in personal freedom, supporting everyone in their choices, always quietly, yet generously there for everyone with his love, kindness, and gentle spirit that sustains his family, even now, in his absence. He was truly a blessing to his wife, his entire family and to everyone whose life he touched. He was the best of all of us.
Grieving the loss of him are Marion Kenyon, his soul mate of 67 years, his son David Kenyon and wife Cindy, daughter Tami Caswell, daughter Karen Kenyon and husband Andy Friedman, daughter Lori Konides and husband Mark, daughter Keli Kenyon and husband Jim Pacifico, daughter Teri Nickerson and husband Bruce, son Paul Kenyon and husband Don Gingras, son Jonathan Kenyon and wife Minty, daughter Jennifer Kenyon and wife Katherine Stubbs, as well as many precious grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We want to say a special thank you to the nurses from Beacon Hospice- Jessica, Crissy and Barbara who were absolutely essential to us in the last difficult weeks of David's life. We were only able to successfully navigate those darkest of days because of your exceptional compassion and expertise. Your brand of nursing care is truly a calling and the world is a better place because of each of you.
A party of remembrance will be held on David's birthday in May. Details will be released when the plans are finalized. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at www.gallantfh.com.