Gearry Lee Ranger, 79, passed into glory land at his earthly home in New Harbor with his beloved wife Sally Dingley Ranger of 59 years by his side. He had fought brain cancer with grace and dignity since July 2013.
Gearry was born and raised in Farmington, Maine where he was valedictorian of his class in 1953 at Farmington High School. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Maine at Orono in business administration.
During his college years, Gearry joined the Air Force and served in Tripoli teaching accounting for 3 1/2 years. He was a lifetime student and loved to learn.
After his schooling, Gearry was employed as an accountant at Arthur Anderson in Boston and Great Northern Paper in Millinocket. Because of the encouragement of his friend, Jim Harvey he opened his own certified accounting practice in Millinocket. After moving to his New Harbor summer home in 1986, he continued his practice there.
Gearry was devoted to public service. He was Chairman of the Town Council in Millinocket and Chairman of the Board of Deacons at both Millinocket Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Nobleboro, where he also taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. He served on the Bristol Consolidated School Board for four years. He recently graduated from the American Institute of Ministry, where he became a certified preacher for local area churches in need.
Gearry was a quiet man and a deep thinker, who loved the word of God and read his bible forwards and backwards, often highlighting and noting his favorite scriptures. He was a methodical man and lived by Abraham Lincoln’s motto, “It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.”
In his later years, he became more easy-going and expressive with his thoughts. He loved being in the woods, hunting, fishing, hiking, sports and especially relaxing in his own log cabin that he and his family built on Millinocket Lake. He took flight lessons and flew over the skies of Northern Maine. He was a modern day Dr. Doolittle and loved his fair feathered friends. He had an avid passion for antiques and american history.
Gearry leaves behind his high school sweetheart, Sally Dingley Ranger and his five children; Joel Ranger and long-time girlfriend, Ann Marie; Miles Ranger and his wife Natasha; Heidi Lane and her husband Russell; Amy Harriman and her husband Rick, and Heather Griffin and her husband Peter.
He leaves behind two brothers, John Ranger and his wife Carol; Michael Ranger and his wife Nancy; one sister Patricia Nurse and her significant other Ken Mitchel; one aunt, Lois Moulton. He leaves behind 12 grandchildren Joshua, Spencer, Rachel, Amanda and husband Jon, Andrew, April, Aimee, Sam, Stephen, Ben, Jackson and Tyler. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Roland and Evelyn (Knowles) Ranger.
Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for a service to celebrate Gearry’s life at 2 p.m., April 27, at the Nobleboro Baptist Church, 8 Backmeadow Rd. Nobleboro. Reverend Foster Williams will officiate. Interment will be 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, May 16 at the Fairview Cemetery, Farmington Falls Road, Farmington.
Should friends so desire, donations may be made to the New Harbor Food Pantry, P.O. Box #100, New Harbor, 04554 or the Bristol First Responders, 104 South Side Road, New Harbor, 04554.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.
