WEST GARDINER – The Town of West Gardiner lost Mert Hickey; one of its finest citizens and a true Legend on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022 surrounded by his family.

His contributions and generosity for the community he loved were countless and enhanced the lives of so many of his town’s people. He served on the School Board, was honored to receive the Spirit of America Award, and was recently recognized at a gathering to celebrate his 33 years of service as Town Selectman. The trees in West Gardiner are breathing a sigh of relief, for they now feel safe! The last tree he cut was on Dec. 20 and it was his and Julie’s Christmas tree.

Mert’s passion was in the woods, and he could be found there more often than not. He started cutting wood at the age of 12 and his work ethic was beyond compare. He delivered his first cord of wood in 1949 when his family first moved to West Gardiner. He cut it all with an axe, yarded it out with a steer named Henry and sold it to Everett Mace. He went on to cut wood with his brother, Eddie, using old wheel tractors. They acquired their first equipment in 1966, which was a 1965 Franklin skidder and later purchased a 1967 pulp loader. Lots of weeks they would process 100 cords of wood and some days made 3 trips back and forth to Berlin, NH. They once had 7 flat tires in one day. He was always grateful to the wood vendors that allowed him to borrow money to support his business, and at the height of his career in ML Hickey & Sons Logging, he had 11 skidders, 18 people working and 3 trucks. He was very proud to work alongside his children for many years.

He was a man of integrity, with great stature and even greater strength. Although his “G” (for Gardiner) and Red Sox hats were his favorites, he wore many. He was a role model, father, friend, businessman, mentor, grandfather, leader, confidant, instigator, jokester, listener, visitor, and farmer just to name a few. You may have had the privilege of experiencing one of his many wild and crazy predicaments over his lifetime. He could tell a story like no other with his dry humor, twinkling eyes and crooked grin, and he left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Mert was predeceased by his parents, Guilford and Marjorie; son Ronald; and father and mother-in-law Julia & Karl.

He is survived by his family that he is most proud of, especially his devoted, patient and loving wife of 40 years, Julia, his brother Edward, brother-in-law Edward; son Steven and Ora, their son Bryan; daughter-in-law Melanie Littlefield-Hickey, her daughters Victoria Littlefield and Macy, grandson Joshua and Kay; son Gary and Tammy, and their family, Gary II and Zoey, Todd, Ashley and Jason Coan; daughter Wendy and Timothy Somes, and their family, Nathan and Rachel, Andrew and Elizabeth and Brooke; son Wayne and Shelley and their sons Cole and Caden; son William and Jennifer, and their sons, Scott and Libbie, Cody and Mikaela and Nick and Sadie Machino; stepson William and Kathy Rollender and their family, Juliana and Tyler Hall, Jennifer and Blake Rossell, Eric and Holly, Sara, Devin, Lexi, Sophie and Jordan Staheli; stepson Matthew and Bonny Rollender and their family, Emily, Anna and Matthew; stepdaughter Kristina and Jason Chadwick and their sons, Wyatt and Owen; 22 great-grandchildren; exceptional extended family, Mike, Kim and Jon Flynn; and the most special lifelong friends, Danny and Nancy O’Laughlin.

Per his wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral services. A private interment will take place in the spring at the Cherry Hill Cemetery.

An announcement will be made at a later date with details of a corn roast gathering “down at the farm” in his honor. Please keep his memory alive.

Remember to “Never give up, work hard and don’t be a Dub!”

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com

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