Arthur Farley Mayo III passed away of cancer on Nov. 3, under the care of hospice and surrounded by family. He was born in Bath on May 10, 1936, to Louise (Messer) and Arthur F. Mayo Jr. He devoted his entire life to serving the community in Bath, Squirrel Island, Sagadahoc County, and the State of Maine.
Art graduated from Morse in 1954 where he was very active serving as treasurer of Mohiba, class treasurer, and being a participant in many activities on the Morse stage. He received a B.A. from the University of Maine in 1958, graduated from Cincinnati Mortuary Science College in 1959, and received an M.Ed from the University of Southern Maine in 1973. He worked as associate director, University of Maine Alumni Association; Associate Dean of Men, University of Maine; and Dean of Students, University of Southern Maine (POGO) over a 10-year period. During this time he was National Vice President of Alpha Tau Omega and visited colleges all over the country. He then returned to Bath where he worked at Shepherd’s Clothing store before running the family funeral homes in Bath and Wiscasset for 23 years. He purchased Curtis & Hill in 1988 so it became Mayo, Curtis & Hill.
Art was a member and former junior and then senior warden as well as treasurer of Grace Episcopal Church and served on several search committees. He was past president of the Maine Funeral Directors Association, Bath Rotary Club, Plant Memorial Home, and Family Focus. He was a member of the Mid Coast United Way Board for 12 years, board chair twice, and campaign chair twice. He was a Bath Area YMCA Board member for 16 years and served as president. Art was a member of the Lions Club and a life member of Bath Lodge of Elks. He was chair of the Center for Higher Education, and the Mid Coast Economic Development District. He served on the board of the Iris Network in Portland. He was a former trustee of Bath Savings Institution.
Art was deeply involved in Morse High School. He became president of his class. He chaired the Bath Alumni Association and was very active in the Blue and White organization and served on the scholarship board for many years. He was also a member and chair of the Bath School Board. He was Director of the Morse High School Scholarship Fund. He was the Honorary Chair of the Blue and White Golf Classic in 2012.
Art retired from the funeral business to serve in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate from 1994 to 2006 and was a member of Legal & Veterans Affairs, Banking & Insurance, and (chair of) the Health and Human Services committees. He was chair of the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Pricing. In 2001, he sponsored the legislation that enabled the establishment of the Mid-Coast Center for Higher Education at the former Bath Hospital building as well as working hard for other legislation. His ability to reach across the aisle did well for Bath, Brunswick, and Sagadahoc County.
Art became a member of the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority, and the Governor’s Advisory Council on reuse of Brunswick Naval Air Station. He then served as chair of the Mid Coast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA).
Art offered strong support for early childhood programs such as Family Focus and Success by 6. He was the Vice President of the Board of The Children’s Schoolhouse and provided appropriate space for children to grow for years to come. Most recently, Art was the liaison for the Patten Free Library Corporators with the Library Board, and he was an enthusiastic member of ROMEOS.
Squirrel Island was a second home for Art. There he served community just has he did in Bath. He served on the Board of Overseers and participated in hiring the first Island Manager; they worked together on the sewer project in 1989-90. He followed one his brothers-in-law (who had been his counselors at Camp Hinds) as President of the Grandfather’s Club and Treasurer of the Historical Society. He also was President of the Chapel Association.
He leaves behind his wife of 31 years, Martha Farrington Huotari Mayo; stepdaughters, Kirsti Huotari Ryder and Mari Martha Eosco and husband Daniel Eosco; and four grandchildren, Niesa Ryder, Sakari Ryder, Alden Eosco and Gavin Eosco, all of Bath; brother-in-law, Frank J. Farrington of Bangor; and many nieces, nephews and cousins from all over the country.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Children’s Schoolhouse, 223 North St., Bath, ME 04530; any Squirrel Island organization, General Delivery, Squirrel Island, ME 04570; Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc. (SPI), PO Box 322, Bath, ME 04530; Patten Free Library, 33 Summer St., Bath, ME 04530; or Grace Church, 1100 Washington St., Bath, ME 04530.
Art will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues near and far.
Visiting hours will be held from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Fri., Nov. 13 at Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Sat., Nov. 14 at Grace Episcopal Church, 1100 Washington St., Bath. A gathering of family and friends will follow at Winter Street Center, 880 Washington St., Bath.
Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.