LYMAN – Stephen Parker Mayo, 85, of Kennebunk Pond in Lyman, passed away peacefully, due to complications from Alzheimer’s, on April 11, 2021, with his family in California.

Steve was beloved by his family, sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, friends-as-family, Kennebunk Pond family – generations of neighbors and friends. He was an ever-present father to his two sons, a role model in the truest, natural sense. His loving relationship with and impact upon his grandchildren Ryane Marie and Parker Stephen was early and enduring; “Grampa Steve” was a cheery mentor who lived at a magical place and made the best “animal pancakes”. Well-known, liked and loved, Steve will be cherished and admired for his strength of character, generosity, humor, compassion, honesty, spirit, and kindness – always a smiling, graceful, help-thy-neighbor Mainer.

His indelible imprint upon so many lives will not ever be forgotten.

Born in Farmington in 1935 to Clem and Kay Mayo, the youngest of three boys, Steve grew up on a farm in North Jay and was an avid 4H participant during his youth. As an adolescent, Steve became a knowledgeable, self-sufficient Maine outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman. As teens, he and his brother Terry canoed the Allagash River from Chesuncook Lake to the (Canadian border) St. John’s River, an eight-day self-supported paddling and fishing journey.

Steve attended a one-room schoolhouse in North Jay before entering Wilton High School in Wilton, where he was a excellent three-sport athlete all four years and two-year class president. After high school, Steve used an ROTC scholarship to attend the University of Maine, Orono, graduating with Mathematics and Engineering degrees.

After completion of his Army commitment, Steve and his young family moved to Hillsboro, N.H., working at Sylvania Electric, where, for example, he participated in the development of Sylvania’s first color television sets. In 1975, Steve and family moved to Kennebunk when he accepted an engineering position at Shape Industries, filling many development, supervisory, and quality-control roles in manufacturing.

In 1980, Steve moved to a small waterfront cottage on Kennebunk Pond in Lyman, where he lived year-round for the next 40 years. He was well-known to his many friends on the pond as a kind, generous, helpful neighbor, pitching in to repair anything, help anyone, at any time. His waterfront property was always well-kept and attractive – and all were welcome. Steve loved the pond and his many, many loved ones on and nearby the pond.

Steve is survived by his son Christopher and Chris’s wife Karen (nee Shields) of Rancho Murieta, Calif., granddaughter Ryane Marie (husband Ryan) and great-granddaughter Sawyer Grace of Livermore, Calif.; grandson Parker (wife Jennifer) of Weymouth, Mass.; brother Terry (wife Sandy) of Amherst, N.H. and nephew Todd and niece Karen. Steve was also, lovingly, “Grampa Steve” to Michael and Christy Shield’s three sons Shaughn, Brian, and Aaron.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents Clem and Kay and his oldest brother Wayne. Steve’s youngest son Mark died in 1983 at the age of 23.

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