BUXTON- James A. Stevens, age 51, passed away at home with family by his side on March 9, 2025, after a valiant battle with cancer.
James was born in Portland, Maine on June 5, 1973, son of Ruth (Pierce) Snyder and the late Daryl Stevens. He was the oldest of his siblings and grew up in East Waterboro with his mom and stepfather Steve Snyder. He attended Massabesic High School, Class of ’91.
In his late teens he learned the flooring trade and continued in the flooring business even through the beginning stages of his cancer journey. He was talented in this line of work, and always proud of every job he completed.
Throughout his life his hobbies included playing the drums, listening to heavy metal and hard rock, skateboarding, juggling, target practice, and watching old Westerns. He loved his time with family at his Grampa Steven’s hunting camp, where he learned to hunt, fish, and play cribbage with his dad and grandfather. He liked spending time at Beech Ridge watching his stepdad race and going Downeast every summer to rake blueberries. He loved mind puzzles, reading, word of the day, and tinkering on machines.
With his sons he enjoyed fishing, going to the races, playing the racing game Gran Turismo, listening to music together, and teaching them music history. They also shared many late-night phone conversations over the years, talking about anything and everything.
Collecting RC cars was a new-found hobby after his cancer diagnosis. He loved working on his cars, of which he had quite the collection. He was often tinkering, trying to find ways to make them better and faster. He and his stepdad Steve built an RC car track to test them on. They kept it maintained with the help of his nephews, and they would all race cars together.
In addition to his family, James cherished many years of friendship with his beloved friend Sue Woodbury. He always looked forward to their routine Sunday get togethers where they shared various adventures right up to his last days.
James was predeceased by his father, Daryl. He is survived by his mother Ruth (Pierce) Snyder and stepfather Steve Snyder of Buxton, and stepmother Linda (Ingalls) Stevens of Windham; sons Sean Austin and James Stevens of Winthrop; siblings, Kelly Latini of Windham, Chad Stevens of Buxton, Renee DeLapp and husband Jason of East Baldwin, Stephani Martin and husband Brett of Hillsborough, NH, Kris Berg and wife Alicia of Porter, Becki Webster and husband Jason of Limington, Aaron Berg and partner Kristen of Vassalboro, and Missi Charles and husband Ryan of Steep Falls; as well as several aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
A funeral service will be held on March 22, 2025, at 2:00pm at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road, Buxton. Visiting hours will be prior from 1:00-2:00 pm. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Bible Church, 74 Deering Road, Gorham, Maine.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Northen Light Mercy Cancer Care and Infusion, 195 Fore River Parkway #360, Portland, ME 04102. Please direct donations toward the patient assistance fund.
A special thank you to all the staff at NLMCCI for their exceptional care and loving support throughout his journey.