Bangor – John Travis McTigue, 101 years, 7 months, and 21 days, passed away peacefully October 13, 2017. He was born February 23, 1916, in Hampden, the son of John T. and Grace (Hamilton) McTigue.

As a teenager, John was the last hostler employed by the City of Bangor and plowed what is now Bangor Muni with horses so that vegetables could be raised on the City Farm for distribution to the needy. John graduated from Bangor High School, class of 1934. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. John was employed by the Maine Central Railroad for 46 years as a locomotive machinist and ICC air brake inspector at the Bangor roundhouse. He was an avid harness racing enthusiast, and was a familiar site along the rail and in the barns of Bangor Raceway. After taking classes in his sixties at the University of Maine, John acquired his farrier license. He also was an inveterate gardener who won many ribbons at the Bangor State Fair.

In 1995, John married his present wife, Betty (Gilmore) Salls.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his first wife, Bibiane (Caron) McTigue; daughter, M. Marie Holmes, grandson Wilfred Hessert and great grandson Patrick Campo; three brothers, Francis "Bud" McTigue, Paul McTigue, who both worked with him at the railroad, and Robert McTigue; and a sister, Roselle Girishman. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Betty McTigue; children: Jeanne C. Campo and husband Charles of Hampden; R. Anne Bell and husband, Robert of Roanoke, VA; Louise M. Hessert and husband, Stephen of Cumberland Center; Frances E. Spier of Gardiner; and J. Mark McTigue and wife Juanita of Bangor; grandchildren: Sherry Holmes of Gautier, MS; Jason Holmes of Gautier, MS; Andrew Campo of Cortez, CO; Matthew Campo of Mechanic Falls; Justin Bell of Buchanan, VA; Corey Bell of Roanoke, VA; Joseph Hessert of Cumberland; John Hessert of Washington State; John Spier of Gardiner; Juliana Spier of Gardiner; Valerie McTigue of Bangor; and Vicki McTigue of Bangor; 11 great-grandchildren on John's side; sister, Judy Erim of VA; brother, Erwin “Jack” McTigue of Bangor; sister-in-law, Martine Seymour, of Portsmouth, NH; and several nieces and nephews. He will be sadly missed by Betty’s children, Kathy LePage, Janet LePage, Peggy Brawn, John Salls, and their families.

A Funeral Mass will be held 2 PM, Wed, Oct. 18, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York Street, Bangor, followed by the Rite of Committal at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery.

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