Burleigh "Sam" Sprague Obituary (1947 - 2023)

Burleigh Austin Sprague, 76, passed peacefully at his Starboard home, surrounded by his loving family, Thursday, September 28th, 2023. A good Christian man, known affectionately as Sam by all who knew him, was born July 17, 1947 in Bangor, Maine, the son of Harry and Leona (Morrison) Sprague. Sam grew up locally and lived for a period of time in Connecticut, but he called Downeast Maine his home, settling in a house he’d wanted since he was a boy, and raised his family there. He attended local schools, graduating from Machias Memorial High School and the Deering-Milliken School for Management. Always a committed member of his community, Sam was a good neighbor and public servant. At the age of 13 he was elected a junior firefighter by the Starboard Fire Department, and he remained with the Machiasport Fire Department until his declining health. He was elected by his neighbors several times to serve as a selectman and planning board member for the town of Machiasport. He was also active in local civic organizations for many years—the Downeast Fairgrounds Association and the local Gideon’s chapter. He could be counted on to lend a hand wherever needed. But Sam’s true passions were his quiet life and family. A Mainer through-and-through, possessing a wisdom learned from a life well-lived, Sam was a dependable and hard-working man—and jack-of-all-trades—excelling at any job over his lifetime—fisherman, gas-station attendant, tipping, blueberry raker, mill supervisor, weatherization specialist and crew leader, building supplies manager, road sales, and funeral attendant. Whatever it took to provide for his family, Sam would do it, and do it well. As a devoted family man, he served in his sons Boy Scout troop, took his son and daughter to horse shows, chaperoned many of children’s school activities and dances, and could be seen locally dancing or roller-skating with his wife, Donna. He enjoyed reading, western movies, fishing, and hunting. As his family grew, he became a doting grand-father and great-grandfather, loving them all with the same passion and dedication as his own family. He attended many of their activities, school and sporting events, and family gatherings, traveling many hours to do so. Sam is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Donna (Pettegrow) of Starboard, his daughter Dawn and her husband, Tim (Lajoie) of Lewiston, sons Douglas and partner Paula (of East Machias), and Dennis and partner Shain (of Whiting); brothers Thomas and his wife, Hannah of East Machias, Dale of Westbrook, Maine , Danny and his wife, Marlene of Machiasport, Mark and his wife, Nancy of East Machias, Peter and his wife, Vanessa of Machiasport, sister Ann and her husband, Harry (Crocker) of Starboard. He is survived by 5 grand-children: Samantha (Lajoie) Wigton and her husband, Spencer of Turner, Maine, Jacob Lajoie and his wife, Eryn of Lewiston, Jamison Sprague of Starboard, Caleb Sprague of Bangor, and Lani Sprague of Hermon; and ten great-grandchildren, Arrow Wigton, Galilee Wigton, and Juniper Wigton of Turner, Maine; Kane Lajoie, Kylo Lajoie, and Knox Lajoie of Lewiston, Maine; Piper Ramsdell of Bangor, Maine, Miles Robicheau, Bentley Robicheau, and Nolan Robicheau of Wesley, Maine. He is survived by his very special life-long friend, Bobby Ingalls of Bucks Harbor, Maine; special brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Sheila (Pettegrow) Daigle of Danielson, Connecticut, sister-in-law Nancy of Winter Harbor, Maine, and brother-in-law Stanley Pettegrow and his wife, Sue of Orrington, Maine. Sam’s family wants to offer a very special thank-you to Ann, Nicole, Jamie, Janie, and Tara of Community Health and Counseling Hospice Services for the dedicated and compassionate care they provided for him and his family during his illness.