Gene Veinote

NEWBURGH - Gene Eldred Veinote, 88, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2025 with his wife of 40 years, Bonnie R. (McEwen) Veinote, by his side.

Born at home in Newburgh, ME March 10, 1936, he was the youngest son of Ford E. and Dorothy P. (Croxford) Veinote. A resident of Newburgh his whole life, he was known as a hard worker, a great story teller, a supportive friend, a true gentleman, a friend to animals, and a great pilot. He was an earnest man and if you were too, you had his respect.

Gene loved to spin a good yarn, including stories of his birth in a barn, of making mayonnaise chocolate cakes for his Grandmother Veinote who lived next door when he was a boy, of hunting through the years with brother Paul, of working with his father on the roads from the time he was young, of racing cars, of his work for the Maine DOT and of building and flying planes. He loved his family and friends, roller skating, going to the fair, camping, singing while he worked and drove, eating seafood- especially lobster, going to the dances, feeding the animals, building airplanes and going to Fly-ins, traveling, his cat, and his mountain. He decided early to work hard so he could have fun when he wasn't working, and this allowed him to enjoy many things.

If you had a subscription to The Grit newspaper in the 1940's, Gene may have been your paperboy. He also worked as a farmhand on the Chapman Rd. from the age of 10. Working his way up in life, Gene traded up as a youngster from initially owning a bicycle, making improvements and repeatedly trading so he eventually was able to buy a truck and go into business for himself. When he first started working, he loaded railroad boxes with logs. He was so young, the company didn't want to hire him, but decided to give him a chance for a day. He got so many logs loaded; he got the job! He learned how to rebuild nearly anything, including cars, trucks and then airplanes. He plowed for the town for over 30 years. Throughout his life he valued conscientious work, being a reliable and honest person and he was dedicated to working hard to support his family. He continually learned new skills to achieve his goals and was able to build two homes on his property himself, which he continued to maintain and care for throughout his life.

He and his wife, Bonnie, met at a dance at the Pine View Pavillion in Winterport on March 7, 1981. They loved to go to dances at the Red Barn in Monroe, too. Gene loved to dance and loved music, especially music of the 50's, 60's, and 70's including Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly, Dick Curless and Merle Haggard.

Gene built and owned many small airplanes over his lifetime. At last count, he had owned 74 planes. He and Bonnie attended Fly-ins in many states and enjoyed traveling together throughout their marriage to Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Alaska and many in between. He traveled with his friend, Dan, to New York and Canada. He made many friends in the flying and racing communities.

Gene's love for racing began as a young adult and continued as his children became interested. His two boys, Randy as the mechanic and Greg as driver, entered into the racing field where they also raced with their cousin, Dennis Veinote, and their friend, Ricky Craven. Gene got so involved that after his boys stopped racing, he followed Ricky all the way to NASCAR. Gene and Bonnie traveled to many races in many states to see him race and went to all 10 charity snowmobile rides Ricky held for the Children's Miracle Network. In Ricky's words "He was a good man, somebody I always looked up to. I've met thousands of people in my travels... none were more genuine or sincere as Gene Veinote".

Gene will be missed by many including his wife, Bonnie; his son, Greg, and special friend, Barb Lilly; his step-daughter, Lisa, and husband, Michael Valliere; his step-son, Peter Quigley, and wife, Lisa; his son-in-law, Kenneth Cook; daughter-in-law, Rose Kinsella, and husband, Tom; his brother, Robert Veinote, and Doreen Beerman; sister, Jennie Richardson, and her husband, Robert; sister-in-law, Frances Veinote; sister-in-law, Deloris (Lorrie) Ann McEwen Drew Harrison, and Marsha Shute, (Bella & Sammy); sister-in-law, Amber Philbrick, and husband, Jerry; brother-in-law, Gene Young, and wife, Chris; brother-in-law, Lanny Young, and wife, Kathy; brother-in-law, Raymond McEwen, Jr.; sister-in-law, Brenda Cesare; sister-in-law, Vicki Dubois, and husband, Dana; sister-in-law, Donna Seamans, and husband, Roger; sister-in-law, Carol Bracy, and husband, Robert; brother-in-law, Brenton McEwen, and wife, Julie; brother-in-law, Jesse McEwen; the mother of his children, Barbara Tasker Hackett; and his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Erica Gower and husband, Shane, and their son, Josh; Kyle Veinote and special friend, Melissa, and his son, Benson; Lindsey (Kinsella) Hutchinson; Derick Terrill and his children, Chase, Braydn, and Sydny; Amanda Batchelder and her children, Dakota, Kaylea, Colby and Ryin; Allison Mannella and her husband, Michael, and their children, Stephen and Abbie; Valerie Buckner and her husband, Buddy, and their children, Layla and Lilly; Sarah, Micah, Hannah and Noah Quigley Valliere.

Gene was predeceased by both parents; his son, Randy; his daughter, Cathy (Fluff); his brother, Paul; his granddaughter, Heather; his nephew, Dennis; his sister-in-law, Lucille; his mother-in-law and step-father-in-law, Dorothy P. Young and Gene; brothers-in-law, Mark, Greg and Larry Young and his wife, Chris; his father-in-law and step mother-in-law, Raymond McEwen and Mary; and brothers-in-law, James and Robert McEwen and Peter Cesare; and by special friends, Jimmy Rogers, Larry and Charlene Morse, Glenn Henderson and Delmont and Jean Spencer.

Relatives and friends may call 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 24, 2025, at the Hampden Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Ave., Hampden and funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday also at Brookings-Smith. There will be a celebration following at the Goodwill Riders Snowmobile Club at 842 Western Ave. in Hampden. Spring interment will be at the Brookside Cemetery, Newburgh.

A special Thank You to Dan Dufault and his wife, Teri, for always being there. To the many family members and wonderful friends who provide support, have sent well wishes, thoughts and prayers it is truly appreciated. In place of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.