Perry Polland Edwards '58

He was born on January 26, 1940, in Lewiston, Maine, the son of Stuart Hall and Noreen Margaret (Polland) Edwards and grew up in Casco, Maine.

He began his working career at Dielectric Communications in Raymond and later joined Wilner Wood Products in South Paris, where he worked for 29 years, retiring when the company closed. His favorite job, however, was serving as a safety coordinator and instructor for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Perry instructed and taught many courses, ranging from ATV to firearm safety to countless people over the years. He was a mentor to many and had tremendous knowledge that he loved to share—and his students loved to hear.

He also served as a long-time substitute teacher for Oxford Hills Middle School where he met his wife, Caryl who was a special education teacher. Perry was involved in the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and many local Fish & Games. A tremendous outdoorsman, he loved to share his passion for nature with anyone who wanted to listen. His camp in Upton was a very special place to him and his family.

Perry was a Civil War buff in the strongest meaning of that word and his love of history, and the written word was something that he passed along to his children. For many years he and Caryl attended the Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Round Table in Brunswick. He was also a member of the Casco Village Church and enjoyed singing alongside Caryl who played the piano at local nursing homes.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Caryl (McIntire) Edwards of Harrison; his seven children, Douglas Edwards and his wife Linda, and their two children, Miranda and Aimee; Wendy Doxsey and her husband, Thomas, and their four children, Bradley, Nicholas, Caitlin, and Lucas; Benjamin Edwards and his wife, Anne, and their three children, Blaine, Alyssa, and Jordan; Dona Sickels and her husband, Craig, and their two children, Matthew and Orion; Sean Edwards and his wife Heidi, and their children, Lindley, Taylor, Leo, and Molly; Deasy Edwards and his fiancée Felicia Dyer, and their five children, Brittany, Sean, Isabelle, Emma, and Jake; and Lisha Phillips and her husband Daniel, and their daughter, Nicole; three stepchildren, Jolene Berry and her husband Richard and their two children, Jamie and Janelle, Tracy Estes and her daughter, Courtney, and Diehl Estes; 27 great grandchildren; 1 great, great grandchild; nieces, Beth Thompson and Sally Drudi. He was predeceased by a sister, Joline Drudi; his best friend, Harvey Small.