Hermon - Clinton Donald Ward Jr., 76, passed away of natural causes on December 28 at a Bangor hospital. Clinty or Junior, as he was known to many, was born on September 20, 1942, in Glenburn, Maine. He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse in Damascus and was then educated in the Bangor public schools where he played football for Bangor High. He married his wife Sharon (Smart) Ward in 1972. Together they owned and operated a horseback riding stable in Trenton, Maine, a well-visited tourist stop in the summers. Clint then worked for ALCO Packing as a commission buyer in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada, for several years. Wanting to work for himself, he and Sharon started and built a successful livestock business which included buying, selling, and trucking both dairy and beef cattle to auction houses and slaughterhouses around the Northeast U.S. and Canada. This business provided him with the opportunity to meet, and work with, farmers and other livestock dealers as he drove his route “out in the country” around the state. He took great joy in visiting farms, attending auctions, talking about the cattle market, and making a good deal. Those who knew him best would describe him as humble, independent, hard-working, and dependable, a man who didn’t hesitate to help others when they needed it. His strong work ethic and his keen insight and understanding of the livestock business set an example for others in the industry, and he served as a mentor for many. Always up at the crack of dawn, Clint thought of the early morning hours as, “the best time of day, a time to get things done.” He was known to many for his generosity in both business and in his personal life, while his wit, teasing, and infectious laugh could warm a room, and a heart. Clint was blessed to have many trusted friends, business partners and loyal customers whom he appreciated through the years; the impact of his passing will be felt by many.
Clint was predeceased by his father, Clinton Ward Sr., his mother, Louise (Walker) Hunsicker, and his parents-in-law, Velma and Jairus Smart. He was also predeceased by Jim McInnis of Nappan, Nova Scotia, whom he thought of as a second son. Surviving in addition to his devoted wife of 46 years are his daughter Debra and her husband, Mark Bishop, of Hermon, Maine; his daughter Kimberly and her husband, Louis Shriro, of Glendale, Arizona; his daughter Kathryn and her husband, Steve Woods, of Yarmouth, Maine and his son Kevin Ward of Texas. He is also survived by his loving sister, Charlene Bodine, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a half-brother, Scott Ward, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a half-sister, Laura Lenfest, of Bangor, Maine. Additionally, Clint is survived by two special nieces, Tammy Shores Roe of Scottsdale, Arizona and Lisa Burns of Encinitas, California, along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday January 1, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A funeral service, also at Brookings-Smith, will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2 with a reception to follow at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St.
The family asks that gestures of remembrance in Clint’s name be made to a Maine 4-H youth program or charity of choice.
A special thank-you to Clint’s many friends who have been supportive and willing to lend a helping hand during this difficult time.
Expressions of condolences to the family may be shared at BrookingsSmith.com.