Parsonsfield, Maine - Rodney Carroll Stacey, 89, of Parsonsfield, Maine passed away quietly on April 2, 2020 at his home on Elm Street. He was born June 11, 1930 at his home in Parsonsfield to Laurence F. Stacey and Isabelle (Belle) Sawyer Stacey, the 6th of 7 children.
He attended local schools graduating from Porter High School in 1949. He married Hope Hammond in 1953. After High School he worked at Elm Row Dairy as a partner and owner, a family owned business, until it closed in 1972. He later bought and sold real estate and did carpentry work. He did everything from doing repairs, shingling roofs, painting houses, building additions and complete houses. He was care taker for many years at the Maine Teen Camp in Hiram.
He was a 74 year member of the Riverside United Methodist Church in Kezar Falls. He served on the planning board of the Sacopee Valley Health Center in the beginning stages. In his younger years he really enjoyed dancing, square dancing and he bowled every Thursday night on the Elm Row Dairy team at Strike and Spare Lanes.
He was a snow plow contractor and he cut fire wood. He loved it when it was time to hay. Mowing, tedding, or baling, it didn’t matter to him as long as he was on the tractor helping his boys. Then there was sap season. He started making syrup when he was in his early teens. He helped his grandfather haul the sap with horses. Later he worked with his father and uncle. His brothers often helped him gather along with nephews, his children, their friends and later the grandchildren. It was a very special time of year for him, something he looked forward to with excitement. He was an avid outdoorsman and many of the jobs he took on were jobs created by nature itself. He was a very hard worker his entire life, but he never looked at his work as a job. To him it was always enjoyment. He had a big heart and was always very kind and generous.
Growing up he always enjoyed sports, playing basketball and baseball in school. He would tell about the time at a baseball game he hit the circuit. Later after the game, the umpire grinned and told him that next time he went to Goodall Park he should be sure to touch home plate. However, his true love was hunting and anyone who knew him knew he was an avid hunter. He always looked forward to hunting season each year, a time he often spent with family and friends. Several different times he hunted big game with his sons and close friends. He made two trips to Newfoundland hunting moose, he took a trip to New Mexico, Idaho, and Washington state hunting elk, and he once went to Labrador to hunt caribou. He finally got drawn for the Maine moose hunt in 2000, several months after he had his stroke. The hunt was eventful even though he wasn’t able to shoot the moose himself. He got to share the experience with 3 of his children, 2 son-in-laws, 5 grandchildren and some friends.
In later years dad realized working hard to provide for his family, as he came from nothing growing up, it was just as important to spend time with his family. He was an avid fan at his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. Sometimes enjoying the game more than they did.
Rodney was predeceased by his parents; sisters, an infant Evelyn Stacey and Elaine Noyes, brothers Herbert Manuel Stacey and Lawrence Arnold Stacey.
Surviving are two sisters, Marilyn Lord of Parsonsfield and H. Joan Wansor of Bonita Springs, FL, his children Rhonda Sanborn and her husband Rick of Parsonsfield, George Stacey and his wife Marylou Whitney Stacey of Parsonsfield, Eugene Stacey and his wife Marylou Munroe Stacey of Hiram, Luanne Mudgett and her husband David of Parsonsfield, his son-in-law Ronald Wedgewood of Mansfield, Texas, twelve grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind a community of friends who meant a great deal to him. He loved his family and was very proud of them all, as they meant the world to him. He will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.
There will be a service scheduled at a later date. Arrangements are by Poitras, Neal and York Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Sacopee Rescue Unit.