LEWISTON — Christopher Harold Stevenson, 59, of Wayne, devoted husband and father, longtime Wayne road commissioner and the owner of C. H. Stevenson Inc. excavating contractors, died April 2, after a brief illness. He left this life surrounded by his family in Central Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Farmington Memorial Hospital, Dec. 16, 1952, to Priscilla (Berry) Stevenson and T. Douglas O. Stevenson of Wayne, Chris attended Wayne schools and graduated from Kents Hill School in 1972.

Immediately following his high school graduation, Chris started his own excavating business. The business grew into C. H. Stevenson Inc., based in Wayne. Initially, Chris engaged in residential excavating and road building in Wayne, and today there is hardly a property in the town that hasn’t been worked by C. H. Stevenson Inc.

Chris gradually expanded his growing business across Kennebec County, progressing into utility excavation, and ultimately operating throughout the greater part of Central Maine, from Portland to Rockland, Rangely to Waterville and points north.

During busy seasons, his successful business employs as many as two dozen local people. Respected for his business acumen, quality work and integrity, Chris also was regarded for his kindness and generosity to the town and residents of Wayne. At just 21, he was elected Wayne’s road commissioner — Maine’s youngest road commissioner — in 1973, and he held that position, maintaining Wayne’s roads, for 21 years.

For 13 of those years, C. H. Stevenson Inc. also plowed Wayne roads every winter, and Chris took very seriously his responsibility for ensuring the safety of those roads for local drivers. When he retired from the commissioner post in 1994, the Maine State Legislature commended Chris for his dedicated service.

He frequently donated his services to his community, supporting sports teams and various fund-raisers. The Wayne Methodist Church, Wayne Elementary School, Ladd Recreation Center, Cary Memorial Library and others benefited from his generosity.

In 1976, his future sister-in-law, Susan (Mrs. Ford) Stevenson, introduced him to Betty Anne Zachary of Essex Fells, N.J., who became his wife on March 17, 1979. They welcomed two children, Heather Anne Stevenson in 1980, and Zachary Harold Stevenson in 1981. Devoted to his family, Chris showered his children with unconditional love and support. He proudly watched his daughter graduate from the University of Maine-Orono in 2003, and his son from Maine Maritime Academy in 2004. Heather is now a first-grade teacher and Zachary is now a 2nd Officer in the Merchant Marine. Both are also involved in C. H. Stevenson, Inc.

Chris played as hard as he worked, and he loved spending time with friends and family. He was known for memorable C. H. Stevenson Christmas parties, for flipping burgers and dogs at his brother David’s annual Memorial Day barbecue, and for countless days of fun and frolic at his camp on Androscoggin Lake. He had a quick wit, was always ready with a humorous comment and an engaging laugh.

A member of the Androscoggin Yacht Club for most of his adult life, Chris loved boating and a host of other year-round recreational pursuits including waterskiing, bumpertubing and parasailing on Androscoggin Lake. An inveterate prankster, he kept score on how many times he was able to dump skiers or eject tubers. He also waterskied behind an airplane on Pocasset Lake and in 2008 launched his first party barge on Pocasset. Last summer he replaced it with a more comfortable model and delighted in taking friends and family on liesurely cruises around Androscoggin.

His love of snowmobiling led to trips throughout Northern Maine, the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec and Montana. He hauled his RV to campgrounds in Oxford, and Glen, N.H., which became a regular family destination every fall for many years. He skied in Jackson Hole, Aspen, Vail, Park City, and St. Anton, Austria. And then there were family trips to Florida, Hawaii, Lake Powell (Utah), the Bahamas, and St. Maarten.

And every summer he and Betty worked in their large vegetable garden, the produce of which they enjoyed for many months. Chris was a member of the Augusta Elks Club and a lifetime member of the Wayne Grange.

In addition to his wife, Betty, Chris leaves his son, Zachary H. Stevenson and wife, Natalie; his daughter, Heather A. Gallant and husband, Timothy; one granddaughter, Spencer Gallant, born in December; his mother, Priscilla Stevenson, all of Wayne; he also leaves five brothers, Douglas Stevenson and wife, Holly, Ford Stevenson and wife, Susan, Craig Stevenson and wife, Betty Sue, and David Stevenson and wife, Hazel, all of Wayne, and John Stevenson and wife, Ruth, of North Yarmouth; 15 nieces and nephews; and eight great-nieces and great-nephews.

Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

Copy the Story Link