Everett Leo

Ayer

GARDINER - Everett L. Ayer peacefully passed away on Tuesday morning, November 3, 2026, with his daughter, Katharine, at his side. He was 92 years old. He was born in Augusta, Maine on February 7, 1934, the son of Ruth Pepin Ayer and Everett Laforest Ayer.

Everett grew up in Gardiner, Maine and graduated from Gardiner Area High School in 1953. It is there he met the love of his life, Janice Gray. Everett loved telling the story about their first date, which was a movie at Johnson Hall. After the movie, he asked Janice if she’d like to get something to eat. Gratefully, she said “no”, as he didn’t have a cent in his pocket! They sat in the first two seats of the balcony where there are now nameplates commemorating the event in the newly renovated Hall.

Everett and Janice married the summer following their graduation. Shortly after marrying, they moved to Natick, Massachusetts where Everett attended an automotive trade school and worked at Commonwealth Chevrolet in Boston. Because they both missed Maine and their families, they returned to Gardiner soon after Everett completed his schooling and their first son, Raymond, was born. Back home in Gardiner, Everett started his own business, Ayer’s Auto Body (which years later became Ayer European Auto).

In addition to being an extraordinary auto body repair man, Everett was also an accomplished builder. He built his original auto body shop with the help of his stepfather and went on to build a beautiful home and several barns designed by Janice on 30 acres of land they purchased on Highland Avenue. It was there that they spent precious time with their two granddaughters, Marissa and Devon, exploring the woods, fields and gardens, and playing school in the cupola of the barn. Gramp constructed a dragon for them to climb on out of a fallen tree and built birdhouses for them to paint then put up around the property.

The Ayer family enjoyed many years of skiing, sailing, camping and innumerable road trips throughout Maine, to World Fairs, Canada, and Boston that included picnics on the Charles and visits to museums. Everett had a penchant for cars from a very early age - especially foreign cars from Germany and Italy. He loved taking road trips with Janice and longtime friends, Bob and Betty Reynolds, in cars from their collections. The two couples also embarked on many other travels together including trips across the US, Mexico, Europe, Fiji, New Zealand and many other destinations.

The Masons were a very important part of Everett’s life. He was a 65-year member of Hermon Lodge #32 and the Scottish Rite, earning their highest 32nd Degree. He was also an active member of the Kora Shrine.

Everett spent the last six years of his life at Granite Hill Estates in Hallowell, ME. While there he walked every morning with his friends Richard and Jackie, except in winter when they donned their snowshoes and trekked around the property. The three earned the nickname, “The 3 Musketeers”! He also participated in just about every activity offered throughout the day. Every evening after dinner, he met with “the men” in the billiards room and enjoyed an hour or so of pool.

Everett was predeceased by his wife, Janice; youngest son, Thomas; mother, Ruth Jordan and stepfather, Everett Jordan; father, Patrick Laforest Everett Ayer; half-sister, Sandra Jordan Kersey; and brother-in-law, Lawrence Veilleux.

He is survived by his son, Raymond Ayer and daughter-in-law Vicky of Monmouth, ME; daughter, Katharine Ayer and son-in-law Andrew MacLean of Fayette, ME; granddaughter Marissa Steiner and husband, Jerry Steiner of Fairfield, ME; granddaughter Devon Ayer of Frederick, MD and son-in-law Justin Littlefield of Concord, NH; sister-in-law, Lorna Veilleux of Gardiner, ME; two nephews, two nieces, and four half brothers and sisters.

Words cannot begin to express the gratitude and appreciation Everett’s family feels for the extraordinary care and kindness the doctors, nurses, assistants and staff showed to Everett, and them, during his extended stay at MaineGeneral Alfond Center for Health - Floor 3 West. We are forever grateful.

Additionally, many thanks and much gratitude go out to the residents, staff and administration at Granite Hill Estates for making Everett an integral part of the community. He truly loved his time there and his family always knew he was safe and looked after.

Visiting hours will be Monday, November 16, 2026, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, ME. There will be a small, informal Celebration of Life at Granite Hill Estates on Saturday, November 28th from 1-3pm.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staple Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, www.staplesfuneralhome.com