Gaylon F. Richards

Auburn – Gaylon F. Richards, 81, passed away on Monday October 16, 2017 at The Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn with his family by his side. He was born in Dover- Foxcroft on February 5, 1936, a son of the late Fernald and Leona (Coy) Richards. Following graduation from High School, he attended The University of Maine in Farmington from where he graduated and received his Bachelors Degree in Education. In 1958 he enlisted in the US Army and was a member of the 101st Airborne until his honorable discharge in 1962. On September 1, 1962, he married Christine Merrill. They were married for 42 years until her death in 2004. Gaylon was a teacher in the Auburn School system for 32 years until his retirement in 1999. He was a great outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, working with wood and he had a long history of doing greenhouse work dating all the way back to working with his parents. He and his wife raised a beautiful family of four children and he enjoyed his time with his six grandchildren.
Gaylon is survived by his 4 children: Tim Richards and wife Kelly of Carrabassett Valley, Gayl Downs and boyfriend David Leonard of Winthrop, Jonathan Richards and wife Brooke of Waterboro, Kimberly Richards-Jones and husband Sean of Brunswick, 6 grandchildren: Emily and Ethan Richards, Hunter Cook, Bailey and Jake Jones, Christine Downs and a sister Sylvia Dean and husband Dave of Sangerville, Me.
Besides her parents he was predeceased by his wife Christine and brother Sumner Richards. Committal Services will be held at a later date at Pine St. Cemetery in Auburn. Those wishing may make Donations in Gaylon’s memory to: Edward Little High School Scholarship Fund, c/o Nancy Cyr, 77 Harris St., Auburn, Maine 04210. A Service of The Fortin Group/Plummer Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services, 217 Turner St., Auburn, Maine 04210. You are invited to offer your condolences and share fond memories with the Richards family by visiting Gaylon’s guestbook at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.