Gordon Leigh Probert

Mr. Gordon Leigh Probert, 84, of Belgrade Lakes, Maine, left his body on March 8, 2026, at MaineGeneral Hospital in Augusta, Maine. Born in Strong, Maine, on September 25, 1941, Gordon was the eldest of six children born to Albert and Alice Probert.

After graduating from Strong High School in 1959, he and a friend hiked the Appalachian Trail from Roaring Brook at Mount Katahdin to the New Hampshire border. In the fall of that year, he attended a forestry school in New York State before returning to Maine to work as a log scaler for International Paper and later as a forest warden stationed at the lookout tower on Snow Mountain. During the winter of 1960-1961, he worked on the ski patrol at Sugarloaf Mountain in Stratton, Maine. These early experiences reflected what would become a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Gordon married Rebecca ("Becky") Watson in September of 1961. The couple began their life together in Eustis, and a year later their daughter, Lynda, was born. Soon after, they settled in Industry, where they spent the next 20 years building a life rich with memories while running The Good Food Store in Skowhegan.

After a brief courtship, Gordon married Ann Dionne of Skowhegan in June of 1985, a year after the birth of their daughter, Dionne. The family moved across the country several times before eventually returning to Maine, sharing many happy moments along the way. Gordon retired from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1999. In 2012, he and Ann moved to their home in Belgrade Lakes, where they enjoyed time with family and visits from friends. As his health declined, Ann cared for him wholeheartedly, and Gordon felt fortunate to share his life with such a devoted partner.

Gordon loved working with his hands. Whether laying masonry, chopping wood, playing guitar, painting, or hoisting the sails of a boat, his passions were always expressed through the work of his hands. At the end of a long life filled with varied and meaningful experiences, Gordon maintained his appreciation for nature, his love for family-particularly his youngest grandchild, just two years old-and his remarkable ability to recall a wealth of stories that he happily shared with anyone willing to listen. He left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Gordon was preceded in death by his first wife, Becky. He is survived by his wife, Ann; his daughters, Lynda Vogt and Dionne Mardueno; his three grandchildren, Madison, Juliana, and Hudson; four of his siblings; and many nieces and nephews.

A gathering to remember Gordon will take place in the spring, when family members are able to be together. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation or to your favorite national park, as nature was where Gordon's heart felt happiest.