Wayne A. Shedd

Millinocket, Maine – Wayne "Woody" Shedd, 82, of Millinocket, ME and Sparks, NV passed away suddenly at home on Saturday, September 27 after spending a sunny fall day visiting with his friends.
Woody was born in Hartford, CT in 1943, the eldest of three children. At the end of World War II, his family returned to northern Maine and settled in Millinocket where his father began working at the world-renowned Great Northern Paper mill. In his youth, Woody spent time on the family farm in Mattawamkeag. He was immensely proud of his French Canadian and English ancestry and spoke often of his relatives in Aroostook County and throughout the Katahdin region. After graduating from St. Martin of Tours High School in 1961, Woody attended Ricker College in Houlton before pursuing full-time employment at Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket. He worked in the Engineering & Research/Pilot Plant, climbing the ladder to eventually become a Special Projects Technician who oversaw the Pulp Research group. In that role, he helped to develop stronger newsprint while ensuring that all of the research equipment functioned properly. Later in his career, he worked at the cutting-edge paper recycle plant in East Millinocket. He was incredibly proud of his work and formed lifelong friendships with many of his colleagues. He and his friends loved to recount their time at the mill and shared hilarious stories whenever they were together.
Woody married Bonnie Fogarty, with whom he had three children: Sheila, Wayne, and Byron. Following their divorce, he met his wife Denise, a University of Connecticut physical therapy student interning at Millinocket Regional Hospital. After their marriage, Woody and Denise welcomed his fourth child, daughter Alison. As a father, he was actively involved with his children and loved taking them fly fishing, hiking, and canoeing. He helped to plan and coordinate outings for Alison's Girl Scout troop and became a basketball fan as he watched her many basketball games. He and Denise graciously hosted foreign exchange students from New Zealand, Finland, and Turkey; each spending a year living with them in Millinocket. He enjoyed learning about their cultures and sharing his, and was affectionately known as "Dad" to each of them. One of his favorite memories was his family vacation to Costa Rica with Alison and Denise following Alison's own student exchange there.
An outdoor enthusiast, Woody savored fly fishing in remote ponds in and around Baxter State Park, often hiking in after work to enjoy the evening trout rise and returning after dark. He loved the north Maine woods and there wasn't a trout pond that he had not discovered. During the cold winter months, tying flies became his favorite hobby. Once the snow melted, he took his family to pick fiddleheads on the banks of the East Branch of the Penobscot River, wild blueberries on the slopes of Mt. Katahdin, and cranberries in the bogs along the Golden Road. With his wry sense of humor, he loved to tell stories of riding a moose in Baxter State Park, catching loons on his fly rod while in his canoe on Slaughter Pond, and getting struck by lightning. Eventually, Woody obtained a camp on Millinocket Lake with a breathtaking view of Mt. Katahdin. He enjoyed hosting friends and family at camp, with barbecues, lobster feeds, boating, swimming, and evenings around the campfire, just smoky enough to keep the blackflies away. Many will remember those pleasant times.
In the late 90's, Woody and Denise embarked on a new adventure on the west coast when Denise accepted a new job in Lovelock, NV. There, Woody transformed into a western cowboy and pursued his hobby of searching for Native American artifacts in the mountainous high desert. With his sharp eye, he found many arrowheads while roaming the desert playas. He enjoyed visits with the many friends that he made in Lovelock, sharing Maine maple syrup with them and learning about local history. He and Denise eventually moved to Sparks, NV where he delighted in gathering with his wine tasting group and attending lectures/workshops on archaeology at the University of Nevada Reno.
In more recent years, Woody was elated to spend time with his family and friends when he returned to Millinocket each summer. He looked forward to planting his vegetable garden and tending his tomatoes, basil, and garlic, and took pleasure in sharing his garden bounty with friends, usually accompanied by a bottle (or two) of wine. Woody always looked forward to daily outings with his son-in-law, Steven, with whom he shared a close bond. Living true to his nickname, he loved to take rides on old logging roads scouting fire wood and lumber, and could not complete a drive without stopping to salvage some cedar, slate, or a unique rock. Even as his health declined, he made it his mission to get to his camp on Millinocket Lake whenever possible. There, he supervised camp projects, tended the campfire, soaked up the warm sun, and watched colorful sunsets from the front deck. In true Woody fashion, he routinely posted photographs of sunsets and his meals on Facebook, prompting his friends to joke that they always knew what Woody ate for dinner. He shared a special connection with his granddaughter Autumn, the apple of his eye. He enjoyed watching her soccer games during his visits to MA in the spring and fall, and he beamed with pride in her presence. He introduced her to foraging for wild mushrooms, and cherished their rides together to find chanterelles. Watching Autumn enjoy the camp and lake with her friends brought him immense joy.
Woody was predeceased by his father Ormand Shedd, mother Ethel (Cowette) Shedd, and sons Wayne and Byron Shedd. He is survived by his wife Denise Drazy-Shedd of Sparks, NV; brother Stuart Shedd and his wife Gundi of Puyallup, WA; sister Sharon Cyr of Millinocket, ME; daughter Sheila White and her husband, Kyle, of Orrington, ME; daughter Alison Fecht and her husband, Steven, of Andover, MA; granddaughter, Leslie Flowers and her husband Darnell of Gardner, ME; grandson Derek Pulsifer of Chelsea, ME; granddaughter Autumn Fecht of Andover, MA; great-grandsons, Darius Williams and Quincy Flowers, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his exchange students Shannon Nelsen of New Zealand; Jaakko Salminen Mussaari of Finland; and Muge Onat of Turkey and CA. He will be deeply missed by his grand-beagle Freddie, his close friends Austin Hastings, Scott Gonya, John Deveau, Gene and Katie Shields, Richard and Tib Manzo, his wonderful neighbors, and his many friends, family, and extended family throughout the Katahdin region and northern Nevada.
In accordance with Woody's wishes, a celebration of life will be held in Millinocket in the summer of 2026. Donations in Woody's memory may be made to the Millinocket Regional Hospital Legacy Medical Foundation (mrhme.org) and the Millinocket Memorial Library (millinocketlib.org).