Azel Littlefield

POLAND — Surrounded by his loving family, Azel Bradbury Littlefield died at his home in Poland, on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, after a fifteen-month battle with brain cancer. Azel was born on May 28, 1936, in Bridgton, as the oldest of five children of Robert Samuel Littlefield and Gladys Heald Littlefield.
His early childhood was spent in Sweden, living at the Fish Pools that his father operated for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Game. Azel and his family moved to Lovell to live with his grandparents, Clayton and Phoebe Littlefield, in 1942. He was truly happy to grow up in the rural country life that Lovell provided. Azel loved to share many funny stories about adventures with his younger sister and three younger brothers, as well as his childhood friends John Cram, Roberta (Cram) Chandler, Jack Bassett, and Bob Lorton. Azel learned to hunt and fish from his father and that continued to be a lifelong passion that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. Azel attended elementary school in Lovell and graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 1953.
It was at this time that Azel met the love of his life, Kay Fernald. She worked at the Lovell United Telephone Co. as a summer job with Azel's mother Gladys. Their romance bloomed and when Kay graduated from the Academy in 1955, they both made plans to further their education. Azel and Kay got married on Sept. 2, 1955, just before they left home to live in Gorham and attend college. Azel attended SMVTI and earned an Associate's degree in Residential Construction, while Kay earned a degree in Elementary Education at Gorham State Teachers College. Azel was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict in 1957 and served two years.
After his honorary discharge, Azel and Kay returned to Lovell and Azel started working for William Severance, remodeling camps into year-round homes at Boulder Brook. In the early 1960s, Azel built their first house on Christian Hill in Lovell and started his own company, Azel B. Littlefield Builders. Azel and Kay's family grew as they welcomed their three children, Bradford Azel in 1961, Darren Scott in 1963, and Lisa Kay in 1965. Azel's business flourished over the next 45 years based on two essential ideals: the highest quality craftsmanship and total homeowner satisfaction. Azel was so proud of the work that he and his crew produced. Over the years, his company built, added onto and remodeled hundreds of homes in the Lovell area, especially around Kezar Lake. Azel was joined in the business by his son Brad in 1985 and Brad continues to run Littlefield Builders, Inc. today.
Although Azel worked many hours each week building and designing houses, his first and highest priority was always his family. Loving and supporting his wife and children was his greatest accomplishment. Whether it was coaching Little League, driving to ballet class, or helping Kay to build a successful flower shop in Fryeburg, Azel's commitment to his family was unending. Azel and Kay moved to Fryeburg in the mid 1970s, as their children started school at Fryeburg Academy. Azel and Kay loved to travel and spent many winters in Florida, and vacations at Vistana Resort are still a part of their family today. Azel gradually retired around 2005, and they moved to a beautiful home in Poland in 2011.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Floorman, Dr. Devan Evans, his nurse Jamie and the caring staff at NE Cancer Specialists in Scarborough, the nurses at D'Youville in Lewiston, and the incredible caregivers from Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice.
Azel was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by Kay, his wife of 59 years of Poland; a son Bradford and his wife Tina and their son Kyle of Fryeburg; a son Darren and his wife Susie and their children Michael, Jacob, and Caroline of Mechanic Falls; and daughter Lisa and husband Joey Giroux and children Noah Danis and Daniel and John Giroux of Saco. Azel is also survived by a sister, Phyllis Hetzler of Scarborough; a brother Hobart of Hartford, Conn.; a brother Raymond of Greenwood, Ind.; and a brother Rodney of China.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Fryeburg Recreation Capital Campaign or the Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice, 127 Pottle Road, Oxford, ME 04270.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m., at Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren Street, Fryeburg, Maine. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Expo Building at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.org