Merle Benjamin Heighe

On April 24, 2020, the valley said goodbye to Merle Benjamin Heighe. Born Feb. 22, 1938, in Portland, Maine, Merle lived a full 82 years. If you ever had a habit of picking up The Conway Daily Sun, chances are you have picked up a paper Merle delivered. Merle loved working for the paper, ensuring that it was delivered on time from 1989 until 2017. You see, Merle was a social man who loved to chat and meet new people. He always had a story to tell, and if you knew him, you are probably thinking of one of his tales right now. Merle’s story began when he left high school early, saying goodbye to his parents Benjamin and Arline (Irland) Heighe, to join the Army. After serving in the Korean War, Merle came back home and started a family, settling in Yarmouth, Maine. Becoming a member of the Freeport C.B. Club, he was known as the Coca Cola Kid. A few years later, he moved his family to Orlando, Fla., where he became a long-haul truck Driver. Hauling all over the USA, Merle would return with his family to their camp on Crystal Lake in Gray, Maine, every summer to fish, boat, and rest. Feeling the tug to move back to New England, Merle moved his family to Conway in the late 1970s, working for J.V. Components and Carroll Reed’s Industry, while volunteering for Meals on Wheels. By the mid 1980’s, he began delivering papers for The Reporter until 89, then retired from The Conway Daily Sun in 2017. He will be sadly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cheryl (Thompson) Heighe; his siter Arline Foster (Allan) of Citrus Springs, Fla; his sons, David of Portland, Maine, Michael of Tamworth, N.H., and Sean of Intervale, N.H.,; his daughters, Jo Elliot (Mike) of Daleville, Ala., Barbara Evans (Chris) of Fryeburg, Rissie Heighe of Daleville, Ala., Elaine Campbell (Chuck) of Douglasville, GA., and Julia Heighe of Fryeburg; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The Baker-Gagne Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Ossipee is assisting the family with the arrangements. To share your condolences, messages, stories and sign an online guest book, visit www.baker-gagnefuneralhomes.com