John Wesley Herrick

Blue Hill, Maine - John Wesley Herrick, 64, died December 29, 2025, at EMMC, Bangor, with his family by his side. His passing left a huge hole in his family and for all that knew him. The world has truly lost a great and wonderful man.

John was born on July 5, 1961, at the Bangor Osteopathic Hospital. He grew up mostly in Blue Hill, but Addison was also a big part of his life. After John graduated from George Stevens Academy in 1979, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for 3 years active and then 3 years in reserves. While on active duty, he served aboard the USS MacDonough. He made lifelong friends while in the Navy. John also spent a lot of time during his younger years with his best friend, David Perry, in Cherryfield and had lots of crazy stories about his time with David, Vernie, Shelly, and Alice Perry during those years.

John met Alice Jordan in Cherryfield when she was 19 where she worked summers at the Triple-D restaurant. He ate a lot of burnt pizzas that she cooked for him while getting up the nerve to ask her out. The rest is history - they fell in love, married and had 2 wonderful children and then 4 beloved grandchildren. John was the only man that Alice ever dated and their love is eternal.

John was an exceptional carpenter, and he also had a love for lobster fishing. He owned several Jimmy Beal boats during his lobstering career and his last boat was sold to a fisherman in Kennebunkport that regularly sends him videos of his haul. He so enjoyed receiving those videos. John has left a legacy of beautiful homes, both new and remodeled, across the Blue Hill Peninsula. When John worked for customers, they became his friends and John's circle of friends was huge. John's long-time crew were very special to him, Ralph Slaven Jr., Bobby Davis, and Adam Gray, were truly his closest friends and helped him to create construction masterpieces.

John built Alice a lovely home in East Blue Hill where he could be close to his mother. After many years of Alice admiring the beautiful kitchens that he built for others, he built her an addition that included a gorgeous kitchen with double ovens, a vaulted ceiling, a large pantry, and old barn boards on the walls. He was so proud of what he built for Alice, and she rewarded him with some great meals and treats. John took great joy in food. He always said that Alice's cooking was the best and she made sure that he always had his favorite treats. He also enjoyed their weekly trips to Sylvia's or to The Milbridge House for breakfast.

All that knew, John know that he had the gift of gab. If you ran into John, you had to allow for time to talk about everything and anything. He also had a big heart - whenever her heard about people that needed help, he was there.

John took the greatest joy in his grandchildren. He never grinned wider than when he was with them. Cooper was his first and this makes him special because he got the first piece of Ba's big heart. Then came Parker, followed by Theo - they both love their Bampa and will often be seen running down across the field to see him and their Meme. John loved to make faces at new baby Viola and see her break out into a smile. He commented just recently that "she was some cute." His heart and his family were complete with his 4 favorite little people.

John and Alice had the fortune of being able to travel. John enjoyed greatly his trip to Montana with his son, Wesley, to fulfill an independent study project when Wesley was in high school. John also enjoyed cruising with Alice and especially a 3-week long trip to Alaska in 2024.

One of John's greatest joys was going to camp on Upper Lead Mountain Pond. John and Alice rode for miles on the ATV trails, played cribbage nightly, and enjoyed a fire in the outside firepit. John took great pride in taking a very rough camp and turning it into a showpiece. He loved going there more than anything on the weekends. It was a quiet and special time for John and Alice.

John truly loved animals. After a series of beloved dogs, he came to Lula who is named after his favorite aunt. Lula is an English Setter and by far more intelligent than most humans. She loves her John. He also allowed Alice to build up a herd of 5 cats - some were inherited from their children - that he enjoyed as much as Alice did. He also enjoyed feeding the birds and the deer and one of his greatest joys was deer hunting in the big field behind the house each fall.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Alice (Jordan); his children, Emily C. Davis and husband, Adam, and their children, Cooper John and Viola Alice; Wesley A. Herrick and fiancée, Autumn, and their children, Parker Lewis and Theodore John; his sisters, Mary Hooper, and Marcia Hutchinson and husband, Roger; and his sister-in-law, Linda Herrick. He is also survived by many special nieces, nephews and cousins, including his niece, Kristy Candage who has a heart of gold, and his nephew, Scotty Herrick, who reminded John so much of his dear brother, Frank. There was a special place in John's heart for all the of the Sprague children, but he was especially close to Lori Morse and her husband, Danny. He looked forward every week to having dinner with Lori and Danny to share gossip and stories and they are dear in Alice's heart as well. John is also survived by his sister-in-law Norma Tarbell and husband, Wayne, as well as their wonderful children and grandchildren; sister-in-law Peggy Mitchell and fiancé, Jeff; and sister, Holly Jordan and fiancé, Lawrence. They were all truly family to him and he loved them all. John was predeceased by so many that he loved, including his mother, Edna (Merritt) Atherton and husband (stepfather), Allen; his father, Frank Herrick Sr.; brother, Frank Herrick Jr.; sister, Sara Tracy; and sister, Marjorie Sprague and husband, Richard. John was also predeceased by many uncles and aunts that were dear to him, but his Aunt Lula was by far his favorite and he spoke of so fondly.

A service will be held in John's honor and memory at 1 p.m. January 5, 2025, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. There will also be a sharing of refreshments, a celebration of his amazing and short life, and telling of stories at the VFW Post #109, 419 Main St., Ellsworth, where he and Alice had their wedding reception. This will immediately follow the service. John will be laid to rest in the spring with a private ceremony at Woodbine Cemetery, where he will wait for Alice to join him when it is time.

Condolences may be expressed at jordanfernald.com.