James A. Milligan

SIDNEY – Nov. 2, 1950 – Sept. 12, 2024.

Dad, you left this world too soon, surrounded by your loving family. Although no amount of time would have been enough, you fought a brave battle, never once complaining, to give us these last few years with you, for which we will forever be grateful.

Thank you for being the best father any of us could have asked for. We love you, we will miss you, and we will continue to make you proud. You were the rock of our family. The one we turned to for advice. The one whose love and respect meant the world to us. You patiently taught us to be strong, independent women that aren’t afraid to operate power tools. You were a man that could build or fix absolutely anything, even when we came to you with our crazy ideas, you would turn them into something beautiful. We will struggle without you as our project lead but we will continue your ‘fix anything’ belief that there are no problems only solutions. Your sense of humor was one of a kind. You loved to tell a good joke with that grin and sparkle in your eyes, never taking life too seriously.

Your career consisted mainly of being a meat cutter, managing your own business, Mace’s Meat Market, in Ashland for many years before returning to Sidney and turning the former Bangs Beach into what it is now, The Lakeside Lodge. You pass down your tireless love and care of the family property on Bangs Beach to the next generation.

Through your 56 years of marriage to your best friend, Agnes, you showed us what true love and commitment looks like.

We will miss the stories of your glory days as a Cony High Grad of 1969, your childhood adventures and your weekly recaps of Days of our Lives. We will remember fondly our many family camping trips, summers at the lake, your love of cooking, fishing and most of all our countless sunsets around the campfire together.

You leave behind your beloved wife Agnes Milligan; daughters Laurie, Maggi and Mandy; your devoted sons-in-law and true friends, Royce Witham, Adam Stone (your gangsta) and Andrew Campbell; grandchildren, Jason, Derek and Owen, your forever fishing buddy; great-grandchildren, Sophia, Lucas, Harper and DJ; and son, Daniel and family.

We know you are reunited with your faithful dog, Tardy, looking over us always.

Thank you to the the caring staff at Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, the Maine General Paracentesis team, and Maine General Hospice, with a special thank you to Nurse Kaeti, for bringing a smile to our dad’s face with each visit, your humor, care and kindness goes beyond words.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Oct. 5, from 2-4 p.m., at The Lakeside Lodge, 28 Marigold Lane, Sidney.

Forever with us, Your daughters, Mandy, Maggi and Laurie Milligan