FREEPORT — Rick “RJ” Millett, 52, of Freeport, died suddenly while painting at a job site in Durham with his friend Shawn Urquhart.

Rick was the third generation of Lewis A. Millett & Son, a family painting and wall papering business started by his grandfather in the early 1950s. Many, many homes and businesses in the greater Portland area have been painted by the Millett family in the past 60 years. Rick always said, “We advertise by word of mouth — reputation is everything.”

He grew up in a neighborhood of Cape Elizabeth at a time when neighbors were like family and children played outside and walked to school together. He graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1977. He was very active in the Boy Scouts, achieving the honor of Eagle Scout.

Rick loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, canoeing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, riding his 1977 Harley Davidson Sportster, camping with friends and going to the family camp in Raymond. He loved his family and his friends.

He was predeceased by his dad, Lewis A. Millett Jr.; and grandparents, Lewis and Eva Millett and Lyndon and Grace Eastwood.

He leaves his mom, Lynne Eastwood Millett of Cape Elizabeth; sister Kathy Millett Walker of Westbrook; brother Michael A. Millett of Raymond; two nieces; four nephews; five great-nieces and nephews; two aunts; many cousins; and two goddaughters.

Please join family and friends in celebrating Rick’s life and sharing “RJ stories” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.