Leighton Russell Keirstead, 82, of Damariscotta, died Dec. 29, 2011 peacefully in the arms of his daughters while he was lovingly received by his bride of 55 years. He was born Aug. 1, 1929 in Presque Isle, a son of Oscar R. and Harriett A. (Cook) Keirstead. He graduated from Mapleton High School with the Class of 1947 and from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1949.
Leighton served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict where he was stationed in Trieste, Italy. He married the love of his life, Phyllis Marie (Higgins) Keirstead in Mapleton in 1953 where they started their family, later to be raised in Windsor, Conn.
He was predeceased by his wife who died in 2009; son, Ronald who died in 1981; brother, Clifford; and grandson, Jonathan Tetreault who died in 2008.
Survivors include daughters, Donna J. Carr of Windsor Locks, Conn., LuAnn and husband Stanley Rogala of Walpole, Rhonda A. and husband Mike Tetreault of Southwick, Mass., and Karla S. and husband Jeff Larsen of Southwick, Mass.; brother, Richard Keirstead of Pisgah Forest, N.C.; grandsons, Keith and Peter Carr, Tim Stiles, Chris and Mikey Tetreault, and Korey Larsen; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours were Jan. 1 at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick. Funeral service with military honors followed. A graveside service will be held in the spring, in Windsor, Conn. where Leighton and Phyllis’ urns will be laid to rest with their son Ronald.
