PORTLAND — James W. Leadbetter, 95, died July 3 at The Cedars Nursing Facility.
 
He was born on Feb. 3, 1915, in Harmony, a son of Leigh M. and Nancy Seekins Leadbetter.
 
In 1933 he graduated from Deering High School.
 
On Oct. 25, 1941, he married Ruth Gilman at St. Joseph’s Church.
 
Following high school, he began working at Leadbetter’s Bakery with his mother, and owned the bakery until 1970.
 
In 1969 he started a second family business, The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, which has remained a popular summer destination for over 30 years, earning the Small Family Business of the Year Award in 2009.
 
In the early 1970s he and his wife Ruth started The Candle Shack, a small gift shop next to The Lobster Shack, which they owned and operated together until his death.
 
His lifelong interests included baking, photography and travelling.

For 35 years he and his wife spent their winters in Sedona, Ariz., where he took up pottery and became skilled in Ikebana and egg separators.
 
He was always open to sharing his business experiences with people and encouraged everyone to find their own potential.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ruth G. Leadbetter; a son Leigh F. Leadbetter and his wife Sharon of Sedona, Ariz., and a daughter, Martha Porch and her husband Herbert Porch of Cumberland; seven grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7, at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave. Portland.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cape Elizabeth Rescue, “Wet Team,” 2 Jordan Way, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04017.

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