Gordon P. Blackler died on July 23, 2014, at home with his wife and son at his side after a brief but courageous battle with lung cancer. He was born in Damariscotta, ME, on June 8, 1952, to Ronald Francis Blackler and Louise (Boggs) Blackler. He attended Waldoboro High School and was a member of the first graduating class of Medomak Valley High School in 1970. He began working at an early age delivering newspapers and during high school he worked as a short-order cook at Dave's Drive-In and Diner in Waldoboro and Thomaston, ME. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and after training at Great Lakes, IL, he was stationed at Whiting Field in Milton, FL, in the aviation unit, until his honorable discharge in 1974. After discharge from the Navy, he began working for Galen Collamore Construction of Friendship, ME, building houses until 1975 after which he began his career at Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME. He began as a union member in the rigging loft and was promoted to supervisor in 1977 until his retirement in April, 2010. From April to December 2009, he was assigned to the Austal shipyard in Mobile, AL, to participate in constructing the Navy's littoral combat ship. In April 2010, he started working in the marine division of Computer Sciences Corporation, Sterling, VA, as a naval marine engineer and he and his wife moved to Daphne, AL. He was a dedicated employee who was highly respected for his work ethic by his peers and the Navy. He traveled to many locations for his job and spent time in St. Simon's Island, GA; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; Jacksonville, FL; Pascagoula, MS; Virginia Beach, VA; West Palm Beach, FL; and Wisconsin, Fort Hood, Oregon; Freehold, NJ, and Taiwan. He appprenticed with his father-in-law, Carl Simmons, of Friendship, ME, and obtained a State of Maine commercial lobster license in 1996 which he held until 2012. He enjoyed spending time at his camp on Friendship Long Island, Friendship, ME, and enjoyed lobstering on his boat, Close Enough, which he sold in 2012. He loved dogs and at one time trained German Shepherds at Sukee Kennels in Warren, ME. He enjoyed woodworking and was proud of his Lie-Neilsen woodworking planes. He was predeceased by his father in 1990, his mother in 1995, and his brother, Gary Blackler, in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Lucille (Simmons) Blackler of Daphne, AL, and South Thomaston, ME; sons, Nick Sprague, of Daphne, AL, and South Thomaston, ME; Todd Elwell, of Newton, MA; Gabe Elwell of New Freedom, PA; daughter, Christa (Elwell) Holmes, and husband Greg; brothers, Gregory Blackler, of Waldoboro, ME; Mark Blackler and wife, Tammy, of Jefferson, ME; sisters, Barbara (Blackler) Lacount, and husband, Donald; Jane (Blackler) Lary, and husband, Steven; grandchildren, Jessica (Gerrish) Correll, of NAS Lemoore, CA; and Airman Cameron Gerrish of NAS Whidbey Island, WA; aunts, Linda Miceli and husband, Sal, of Wakefield, MA; Jean Kelly, and husband, Bob, of Tewksbury, MA; uncle, Harold Blackler, of Medford, MA; sister-in-law, Susan Blackler, of West Rockport, ME; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a very generous man with a big heart. He always quoted Will Roger's, "I never met a man I didn't like," and truly never met a stranger. He always looked for the best in people. Memorial contributions may be made to Knox County Animal Shelter, 17 Buttermilk Ln, Thomaston, ME 04861, Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry, PO Box 113, Rockland, ME 04841, or another animal shelter or food pantry of choice. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 1:00 in the afternoon at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main Street, Waldoboro, Maine, with Reverend Robert Dorr officiating. Burial will follow at Harbor Cemetery in Friendship, Maine. You are invited to share your condolences with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.