Hollis Center – Gerald (Gerry) Francis Bagley, 92, died on November 24, 2024 at the Gosnell Hospice House, Scarborough, Maine due to internal injuries sustained from a fall. A celebration of Life will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 25 Westview Drive, Sanford, ME 04073, on Friday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnels of Towers or your local Veterans Association.
Born May 17, 1932, Mapleton, ME To Harold Hebert Bagley and Bernice Maude (Chandler) Bagley. Gerry attended elementary school in Mapleton and graduated with the Presque Isle class of 1950. In his youth, Gerry was a member of the 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He was married for 72 years to his predeceased wife and love of his life, Helen Beverly (Niles) Bagley. He served 2 years in the Army as a Medic in the 325thAIR within the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg North Carolina. He was honorably discharged May 17th, 1956 as a highly decorated veteran.
After the army, Gerry continued in the family business of potato farming until the state developed the New State Road through his property and he started a new career at International Paper where he worked for 29 years as a general foreman, retiring in 1989. Upon retirement, he and Helen sold their home and moved to southern Maine where he immediately began work at CPM Construction in Yarmouth. He ran heavy equipment and was a supervisor on the bridge widening project on the Maine Turnpike Spur.
Gerry was someone who was constantly challenging himself to learn new things. He received his private pilot’s license and was a member of the Private Pilots Association. At the age of 70, he went back to school to receive his steam engine certification to support his volunteer work as a steam locomotive engineer at the Maine Narrow Gage Railroad. In 2015 he received the Founders Award for his years of volunteering service and contributions in rebuilding/restoring several steam locomotives.
Gerry was an avid H-scale train collector of Bangor and Aroostook trains and equipment and built a model replica of the Great Northern Paper Mill and train yard. Self-taught and highly skilled at fixing or building anything, he spent many hours in his workshop creating furniture pieces and toys for his family that will continue to fill the homes of his children and grandchildrenfor years to come.
Gerry is survived by his children Barbara A. (Bagley) Thornton of Portland, ME, his son Geoffrey N. Bagley and his wife Jennifer (Ellis) Bagley of Hollis Center, ME, 3 grandchildren Dakotah H. (Thornton) Farrer and her husband Brad of Houston, TX, Cale T. Thornton and his wife Dominque of American Fork, UT and Niles E. Bagley of Hollis Center, ME and two great grandsons Royce and Rome Thornton of American Fork, UT.He is also survived by a younger sister Joyce (Bagley) St. Peter of Presque Isle, ME and a younger brother Carroll Bagley of Mapleton, ME.
Dad lived an active wonderful life filled with family, friends, creativity and service. We will keep in our hearts all these memories and are comforted knowing that Dad and Mum are together now surrounded by their family and friends who have passed on before them.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service website, www.mainefuneral.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras Funeral Homes, www.mainefuneral.com
- Celebrating the Lives of Veterans -