Stephen William Naas

NAAS, Stephen William, 96, Presque Isle, October 25, 2011. Arrangements in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Homes, Presque Isle.

PRESQUE ISLE – Stephen William Naas, 96, died October 25, 2011, surrounded by his children, following a long and full life with many friends. He was born June 6, 1915, in Sherman Station, Maine, the son of Spurgeon and Nellie (Robinson) Naas.

Steve graduated from Sherman High School in 1934 during the heart of the depression. As work was hard to find, in October 1934, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) where he worked as part of the Forestry Department on road construction in New Hampshire until August 1936. Having played baseball in High School, he participated in the CCC camp baseball team, where he was “spotted” and invited to pitch a game for the semi-professional North Conway team against the Portland Shells. He held them to one hit through four innings before being “batted out of the box.” His love of baseball continued throughout his life including watching the World Series Game the night before his passing.

After leaving the CCC, he worked a variety of jobs including harvesting potatoes, working in the woods, and in the general store in Sherman Station. In 1939, Steve headed to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend the Lincoln Airplane and Flying School where he became a registered pilot and began a life-long love of aviation.

In October 1940, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to Mitchell Field, New York. In 1942, he was appointed to the Aviation Cadets as a pilot. In January 1943, he was appointed as Second Lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve, where he piloted the B-24 Liberator and the B-26 Marauder for which he and his family were always proud.

Though too shy to talk to her in High School, after a chance meeting at the train station followed by a correspondence courtship, Steve married Rebecca “Beckie” Jane Gould on November 27, 1943, in Savannah, Georgia. Their wonderful marriage brought much joy to them and their family for the next 67 years. After the war, the couple returned to Maine to begin their family. He graduated from Husson College in May 1951, and the young family moved to Presque Isle in 1952, where he was employed by the Maine Potato Growers, Inc., and later the Farm Credit Bureau as an outstanding accountant. A longtime member of Bethany Baptist Church, he served many church roles including Lay Preacher, President, Treasurer, and Sunday School Teacher. His deep faith and the love of his church family served him well his entire life. Steve and his family and friends spent many happy times hunting and fishing at their camp on Pratt Lake. After they retired, he and Beckie traveled to Hawaii on their 50th wedding anniversary, enjoyed two trips to Europe, and a special summer in Alaska. Steve is known by his many friends and acquaintances as a story teller who could relate his memories with impressive detail. During his retirement years, he became interested in his genealogy. He authored and published The Naas Family of Nova Scotia about his family and also wrote a history of his mother’s family. Most recently, he found that his family could be traced back to the Mayflower.

Steve was predeceased by his parents in 1959; and his wife, Beckie the love of his life, on October 3, 2010. Also predeceasing him were his brother, Harry W. Naas and his sister, Freida D. Naas.

Stephen is survived by his beloved sons, Paul S. Naas of Windham and Martin J. Naas and his wife, Margaret of Gardiner; grandsons, Jonathan P. Naas and his wife, Carrie of Beaumont, TX, and Stephen L. Naas and his wife, Laura of Gardiner, and their mother, Linda Libby Eaton of Falmouth; step-granddaughters, Kristin and Kayla Marks of Gardiner; great-grandchildren, Lauren and William Naas of Beaumont, TX, and Madeline and Carter Naas of Gardiner; brother, Sylvester D. Naas and his wife, Bennie of Mountainside, NJ; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted 2 p.m. Saturday, October 29, 2011, at Bethany Baptist Church on Second Street in Presque Isle, with Rev. James Ackerson officiating. Relatives and friends called at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Interment with military honors was at the Fairmount Cemetery in Presque Isle.

Those who wish may make donation in his memory to Bethany Baptist Church, 24 Second St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Online condolences may be expressed at duncan-graves.com