John H. Gilman Jr.

BROOKTON- John H. Gilman, Jr. loving and devoted husband for forty years to Jessie (Kinney-Martins) Gilman, went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer. He died Aug. 5, 2007 at home, surrounded by his family. He was born in Brookton on October 17, 1930 the son of John Gilman, Sr. and Mavis (Nason) Gilman. Johnny was a dedicated member of the Brookton Pentecostal Church where he served as a Board member, Deacon and Treasurer for 29 years. He also served on the Board of Directors at Teen Challenge of Maine for ten years. Johnny retired from the Department of Transportation, Highway Division, State of Maine, as foreman on January 30, 1990, after 29 years of service. After this he was employed for sixteen years by Colin Bartlett as a heavy equipment operator.

Johnny was predeceased by a son Sidney; he is also predeceased by his first wife and the mother of his children, Karleen (Kinney) Gilman. He is survived by three sons, John and his wife Mabel of Lebanon, Tennessee, Bruce and his wife Donna of Brookton and Gerald of Brookton; a daughter, Mavis Martinez and her husband George of Ojai, CA; three stepdaughters, Carolyn Couture and her companion Herbert Frost of Monmouth, Joan Richardson and her husband Paul of Conway , N.H., and Barbara Godley and her husband Frank of Brookton; two sisters, Norma Melanson of Bradley and Genevieve (Gene) and her husband Paul Gilpatrick of Weston; one aunt, Edith Jones of Brookton; fifteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Friends and loved ones will miss Johnny’s great sense of humor. Kids at church will miss the candy treats he always had in his pockets. His employer will miss a faithful, diligent employee who loved operating equipment and building and maintaining roads. His church will miss a spiritual pillar. His family will miss a wonderful, loving man, steady as a rock, who always gave them his very best.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at the Clay Funeral Home- Bartlett Chapel, 24 Houlton Road, Danforth. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday at the Danforth Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Frank Godley officiating. Interment will be in Eaton Cemetery. The family welcomes friends to a gathering at the Brookton Forest City Community Center afterwards. In lieu of flowers donations in Johnny’s memory may be made to the Brookton Pentecostal Church.