Jarrett “Jay” Staton Sr.

HIGHLAND PLANTATION – Our wonderful man, Jarrett Jay Staton, Sr., passed away Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 surrounded by his family.

Jay was born in Boston, Mass. on June 5, 1942 to Jerry and Beatrix Staton. When Jay was 2 months old, the family moved to Crescent Lake to help run the family grocery store. Jay was raised by his beloved and respected grandmother Margaret Frost. Jay credited her for his strong determination and work ethic. An old codger named Ansel Adams taught him how to fish and hunt. The Casco Lakes area continued to foster Jay’s love of both sports. Growing up poor, he told the story of shooting a deer one winter, hanging it in the barn and slicing off meat to survive. He was a self-made man.

In 1966, Jay married Mary Murray. Together they raised their family of six in Pownal. In 1974, they moved to Highland Plantation with their four youngest children. He lost his wife, Mary, and business partner, to cancer in May of 1996. He married his second wife, Rebecca Lacey, in December of 1996. She died in May of 2004. Later, that same year, he met Rose Church; in 2008, Rose and Jay were married and both of their families became one.

Jay started his work career caddying at the Poland Spring Inn. He earned 25 cents for each round of golf. Because of his work ethic, he quickly moved to working at the inn’s kitchen, bussing tables and washing dishes. The real bonus was the waitresses! At 17, Jay went to work at the Portland Shipyard scrapping warships. Jay started his own painting business at 19. He quickly had many contracts with the university and the hospitals in the Portland area. Even with this success, he wanted to get back to the country. He bought a camp in Lexington in 1964 and met Mitzi and Larry Nyberg who became like a mother and father. In 1974, he bought the business Driftwoods Arts from them. Soon Jay, his wife, family and crew made beautiful aquarium pieces, picking driftwood from Flagstaff Lake. For 21 years, Jay and Mary employed many people in the surrounding area, mentoring many teens. After selling the business in 1995, Jay started buying and restoring homes in the area. He was a man of many talents. He could fix or build anything and truly loved to work. He built every house he lived in.

In his early days, Jay was an avid hunter of rabbits, raccoons, woodcock and water fowl. Later, he spent his free time moose hunting at Rocky Brook with Skip and Kenny, Rod and Heidi, Daniel, Ali, Isaac, Gabe, Hollye and Pete. Jay was passionate about ocean fishing on the Bingo, the Lady Patricia, the Yellowbird and the Obsession. He will be missed by all of his fishing and hunting buddies from Maine to Florida. We are certain when Jay arrives in Heaven he will give a big hello to all his people, grab a fish pole, Daniel and Skeet, and head for the big fishing ocean in the sky.

Jay loved to dance and have a drink of whiskey. He loved to travel from Newfoundland to Alaska. He has rv’ed his way across the country seeing and meeting inspiring people and places. He discovered there is no place like the town of Highland. He enjoyed socializing with friends and family and routinely hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas for 50-plus.

Jay was predeceased by his parents; a son, Frank Staton; and a grandson, Daniel Emery; long-time friends Chuck Bessey and Skeet Higgins.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Staton; sister, Margaret Park; children Kate and Brian Hatfield, Tammy and Bryce Dunphy, Maggie and Peter Viekman, Heidi and Rodney Emery, Jay and Shelly Staton, Bev Staton, stepchildren Micheal and Michelle Church; and long-time friend, Jo Bessey; many, many, many beloved grands and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.

Funeral service and celebration of life will be Friday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Madison.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit http://www.gibersonfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either

Maine Cancer Foundation

170 US 1, #250

Falmouth, ME 04105; or

Dempsey Center

29 Lowell St., 5th Floor

Lewiston, ME 04240

in Jay’s memory.