RICHMOND.   John Charles Vear, 59, died comfortably on May 19, 2016 at his home in the arms of his loving wife.  After valiant recoveries from two separate brain hemorrhages in 2013 and 2015, he eventually succumbed to a previously undiagnosed, inoperable brain tumor.

John was born on August 18, 1956 in Waterville, ME to Raymond “Pop” Vear and Dolores “Tootsie” Vear.  He was a member of the Class of 1974 at Winslow High School.   He moved to Richmond in the early eighties and married Melissa Harmon on September 14, 1996.  They had two wonderful sons they are extremely proud of, Mars Bonfire in June of 1999 and Rowdy Harmon in July of 2000.

John was always a hard worker, having been employed since a young age when he would deliver newspapers before school every morning.  He then began a drafting career at the Kennebec Valley Regional Planning Commission, and subsequently worked for Bath Iron Works and Wright-Pierce Engineers.  During his employment with Wright-Pierce Engineers he took on the role of Contract Operator and he and Melissa started their own contract wastewater operations company in 2001.  John was extremely dedicated to his work.  He had a great sense of humor and his clients quickly became his friends.  He would be quick to tell you that he was #1 in the #2 business and his motto for his business is “Close Encounters of the T’rd Kind”. 

Anyone who knows John knows he was passionate about automobiles, performing countless car and motorcycle restoration projects over the years.  “The thrill is in the build” he would say, as he spent much more time building than ever driving his creations.  His love for old Chevy vans brought him to the Vintage Chevy Van Club, where he cherished the lifetime friends he made across the United States and beyond.

John touched so many lives with his energetic, charismatic charm.  His happy-go-lucky attitude and love of life attitude were infectious.  He was once described as a social hand grenade as he could walk into a room and it was an instant party when he would say “Hi! I’m John and You’re Not”.  He had friends from all walks of life and he was always there to lend a listening ear, a helping hand, and to encourage people to fulfill their dreams.  He positively influenced more people than he ever would have believed. 

John was a brother of Village Lodge #26 in Bowdoinham and a member of the Scottish Rite.  He was a Trustee of the Richmond Utilities District for 15 years.

God blessed John with time to say Goodbye, and family and friends from near and far were able to spend time with him before he headed out on the vacation of a lifetime.  All his life he said he wanted his tombstone to read “He Had Fun”.  That he did. 

John was pre-deceased by his parents and his father-in-law Vernon Joseph Harmon.  He leaves behind Melissa and the boys, his grandmother Mary Young, mother-in-law Shirley Harmon, stepmother Marilyn Lavelle, brothers Andrew and girlfriend Tracy Michonski, Timothy and wife Wanda, little “seester” Kathe Welsh and husband Leroy, sisters-in-law Melodie Burnham and husband Stan, Kim Berry and husband Tim, brother-in-law Michael Harmon, nieces and nephews Keanna and Aysha Vear, Myles and Caleb Welsh, Megan Sperry, Krystal and Kiarra Summers, Makaela, Brooke and Alexis Michonski, Cassandra and Cameron Hall, Adam and Brittney Burnham, Chris and Savanna Burnham, Mitchell and Adrienne Harmon, Nicholas Harmon, Natasha Harmon, and four great nieces and nephew, Jeremy, Hannah, Brooke and Kenzie and three more on the way.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Maine Medical Center and New England Rehab, CHANS Home Health and Hospice, Father Rob Lupo, Innovative Therapy, and the countless family and friends that have helped them since John’s hospitalization in July, and through these last few weeks, supporting the boys and allowing Melissa to spend every waking minute with her soulmate before God called him home.

A memorial service and celebration of John’s life will be held on June 18, 2016 at the Augusta Civic Center, the same place he and Melissa were married almost 20 years ago, from 1-4 in the afternoon.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home 130 Pleasant St. Richmond, Me 04357.