PORTLAND — Oland “Bud” Knight Jr., 75, died Jan. 30 at Maine Medical Center.

He was born on July 29, 1936, the only child of Mildred and Oland Knight Sr. He spent his childhood in West Falmouth and North Yarmouth and was active in the Grange and FFA. He graduated from Greely Institute in 1954 and attended Portland Junior College.

Knight married Elizabeth “Betty” Bragg in Cumberland Center on Aug. 11, 1956. They bought a house on Farwell Avenue in 1958 and raised their three children there, enjoying 44 years of marriage until her death in August 2000.

In 1951 he began working as a mechanic, during the summers and on weekends, at Cushman’s Bakery in Portland where his father was a production manager. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard at age 19, serving four years and remaining in the reserves until 1986. He was an Engineman, E5 Chief MKC and served on the Cutters Duane, Cowslip and Yankton as well as the Nantucket Lightship.

Knight left Cushman’s in 1968 to begin a career working with Cleaver Brooks Boilers with whom he traveled all over Maine and New Hampshire servicing boilers. He later became service manager and parts manager, retiring from Northeast Mechanical Sales Corp. of South Portland in 1998.

Anyone who knew him knew that his camp on Thompson Lake in Otisfield was a refuge where he enjoyed boating. He also enjoyed four-wheeling with his family in North Yarmouth. He was a good sport with a unique sense of humor.

Throughout his life Knight was active in many organizations including the CB Radio Club, the Cumberland Jaycees, Lions Club, Moonlight Sno-Skimmers Snowmobile Club, National Street Rod Association and the Masons. He was also a member of the Cumberland Farmer’s Club, Cumberland Fire Department, Cumberland Historical Society and the Cumberland Congregational Church.

Knight had not been able to drive since Thanksgiving and, being a social guy, it was very hard for him to sit at home. He went for coffee every weekday morning at the home of his friends George and Carolyn Small who came to pick him up every morning so he wouldn’t miss their daily visits.

After several heart surgeries, Knight began attending the Turning Point program in Scarborough where he would exercise three mornings a week. He told his daughter that he felt the program helped him extend his quality of life the past few years and he hoped to go back when he was well. He spoke fondly of his friends at Turning Point and was grateful for their calls and notes while he was away.

Knight is survived by his children Cynthia Sherwood and her husband Bob, Deborah Dugas, and Robert Knight and his wife Andrea; grandchildren Adam Dews and his wife Amber, Emil St. Thomas and her husband John, Tyler Knight, Aria Knight, Andy Dugas, Molly Dugas and Jake Dugas; great grandchildren Eva and Oliver Dews; his longtime companion Eleanor, her family and dog Lucy; and several cousins and a multitude of friends.

Visiting hours were held on Feb. 5 at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. A funeral service was held on Feb. 6 at the Congregational Church in Cumberland. Burial will take place in Moss Side Cemetery in the spring. 

Donations in Knights memory may be made to Cumberland Fire Department, c/o Chief Daniel Small, 366 Tuttle Road, Cumberland, ME 04021 or American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

PORTLAND — Oland “Bud” Knight Jr., 75, died Jan. 30 at Maine Medical Center.

He was born on July 29, 1936, the only child of Mildred and Oland Knight Sr. He spent his childhood in West Falmouth and North Yarmouth and was active in the Grange and FFA. He graduated from Greely Institute in 1954 and attended Portland Junior College.

Knight married Elizabeth “Betty” Bragg in Cumberland Center on Aug. 11, 1956. They bought a house on Farwell Avenue in 1958 and raised their three children there, enjoying 44 years of marriage until her death in August 2000.

In 1951 he began working as a mechanic, during the summers and on weekends, at Cushman’s Bakery in Portland where his father was a production manager. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard at age 19, serving four years and remaining in the reserves until 1986. He was an Engineman, E5 Chief MKC and served on the Cutters Duane, Cowslip and Yankton as well as the Nantucket Lightship.

Knight left Cushman’s in 1968 to begin a career working with Cleaver Brooks Boilers with whom he traveled all over Maine and New Hampshire servicing boilers. He later became service manager and parts manager, retiring from Northeast Mechanical Sales Corp. of South Portland in 1998.

Anyone who knew him knew that his camp on Thompson Lake in Otisfield was a refuge where he enjoyed boating. He also enjoyed four-wheeling with his family in North Yarmouth. He was a good sport with a unique sense of humor.

Throughout his life Knight was active in many organizations including the CB Radio Club, the Cumberland Jaycees, Lions Club, Moonlight Sno-Skimmers Snowmobile Club, National Street Rod Association and the Masons. He was also a member of the Cumberland Farmer’s Club, Cumberland Fire Department, Cumberland Historical Society and the Cumberland Congregational Church.

Knight had not been able to drive since Thanksgiving and, being a social guy, it was very hard for him to sit at home. He went for coffee every weekday morning at the home of his friends George and Carolyn Small who came to pick him up every morning so he wouldn’t miss their daily visits.

After several heart surgeries, Knight began attending the Turning Point program in Scarborough where he would exercise three mornings a week. He told his daughter that he felt the program helped him extend his quality of life the past few years and he hoped to go back when he was well; he spoke fondly of his friends at Turning Point and was grateful for their calls and notes while he was away.

Knight is survived by his children Cynthia Sherwood (Bob), Deborah Dugas and Robert Knight (Andrea); grandchildren Adam Dews and his wife Amber, Emil St. Thomas and her husband John, Tyler Knight, Aria Knight, Andy Dugas, Molly Dugas and Jake Dugas; great grandchildren Eva and Oliver Dews; his longtime companion Eleanor, her family and dog Lucy; and several cousins and a multitude of friends

Visiting hours were held on Feb. 5 at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. A funeral service was held on Feb. 6 at the Congregational Church in Cumberland. Burial will take place in Moss Side Cemetery in the spring. 

Donations in Knights memory may be made to Cumberland Fire Department, c/o Chief Daniel Small, 366 Tuttle Road, Cumberland, ME 04021 or American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

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