Davis

Craig Allen Davis, 59, of Bethel died May 22, 2012 at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Rumford on May 17, 1953, the son of Robert and Pauline (Philbrick) Davis. He attended Bethel schools and graduated from Gould Academy in 1971.

Throughout his high school years, he worked at Sunday River where he was a member of the Ski Patrol. Craig was very proud to have been a part of installing the first chairlift and the first making of snow. He joined the Bethel Fire Department in 1971 and later became the Assistant Fire Chief in 1976.

He married Margo Thornton of Rumford, on Sept. 30, 1972.

Craig attended ITT Technical Institute where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in HVAC. Upon graduation, they moved back to Bethel where Craig worked for the town and other local businesses. In 1978, he got his first HVAC Field Service Technician position with Daris Refrigeration in Auburn.

In 1999, Craig was diagnosed with Chronic Myelongenous Leukemia. Craig received a full body bone marrow transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash. In 2004 while working for Stan Benware at Service Advantage as an HVAC Consultant, his illness forced him into disability.

Craig was the Past President and Educational Chairman for the Refrigeration Service Engineer Society, (RSES) Dirigo Chapter of Maine.

Craig was a member of the Bethel Masonic Lodge 97 from 2006 on; The State of Maine Wing Civil Air Patrol 37th Squadron out of Bethel/Rumford. While involved with the Civil Air Patrol he was very instrumental in promoting The Wreaths Across America Campaign. Volunteer work included The American Cancer Society of Androscoggin County Relay for Life Committee when in 2005, he received the American Cancer Society of Maine’s Courage Award. Craig had a passion for flying and airplanes. Outside of his family, there was nothing that gave him more pleasure, than flying. He will be sadly missed by all those that knew or loved him. He was a survivor and a fighter.

Survivors include his wife Margo of Bethel; his children, Todd of Bethel, Ryan and his wife Candace of Oswego, N.Y., Kate Saunders of Auburn, his mother, Pauline of Bethel, his special aunt, Rebecca Kendall of Bethel, brothers Wayne of Green River, Wy., Keith of Bethel, sister Becky and her husband Brad Warren of Cooper, Maine; his grandchildren, Emma Davis, Cody Saunders, Benjamin Davis and Reegan Saunders, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Robert L. Davis, and uncle, Maurice Kendall.

A special thank you to Dr. Jacqueline Hedland for her commitment to exceptional care, support and love of Craig throughout his illness.

There will be no visiting hours. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 26, at West Bethel Union Church, Route 2, West Bethel with Tom Roberts officiating. A Masonic Service will follow. A reception will follow at the Bethel Inn Conference Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, c/o Dr. Jacqueline Hedland, 100 Campus Dr., Suite 108, Scarborough, Me 04074-9308.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chandlerfunerals.com

Craig A.Davis