JAMES "BILL" WARREN SAUNDERS
CORINNA—James “Bill” Warren Saunders, 81, died peacefully at his home January 6, 2011. He was born August 14, 1929 in Bucksport, a son of Lysle Prentiss and Flora Marietta (Blaisdell) Saunders.

James, Warren, or Bill -the many names he was known by- was raised with siblings in Bucksport on his parents farm. Bill contracted polio as a young man which left him institutionalized for nearly a year. Upon his recovery he went to work in the Great Northern Woods clearing land in Limestone. Having his ankle severed due to an incident while working up north, he returned home and bought a small farm in Garland where he began a chicken farm of his own. His house caught fire and he then relocated to Corinna, where he bought farmland on the Mower Road, now called Sunken Bridge Road. He married Lillian (Witham) Saunders in his mid-twenties and they began a family together. Working at Eastland Woolen Mill and keeping the farm going, required old fashioned determination. Bill hired many young farmhands who were treated like family. After retirement but continued to farm his land.

Bill is remembered as a man of his own mind with a golden heart. As much as he would gripe about the goings on in the world, he would always greet you with a “how do you do?” a smile on his face and a story to share.

Together,
We have walked a trodden trail
Around this land that we call home,
Memorizing every step and every stone.
As children we bounded in your footprints,
As adults we walked with you side by side.
We could walk this land with eyes shut tight,
And never trip or fall.
Your hair has since grayed
And your body has grown weak,
You leave us now to walk this trail
You left behind.
We’ll walk this trodden trail together,
Until the end of time

Bill is survived by his sister Muriel Gray of Bucksport; a son Edwin “Butch” and wife Julie Saunders; a daughter Janice and husband Michael Day, all of Corinna; 3 grandchildren, Patrick Saunders, Rhonda and husband William “Bill” Shaw, and Shelia and husband Moses Richard; 5 great grandchildren, Tyler Richard-Wilson, Alexis and Kadence Richard, Cody and Carter Shaw; nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends. He was predeceased by his former wife Lillian; great grandson Eric Kyle Dexter, sister Joyce Wilder; 2 brothers Basil and Kenneth Saunders.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1 P.M. Sunday, January 16th at the home of Michael and Janice Day, 114 Sunken Bridge Road, Corinna. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Penobscot County Extension Association, 307 Maine Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401. Cremation arrangements are by Crosby & Neal Chapel, Corinna. Those who wish may leave written tributes at www.CrosbyNeal.com.