AUGUSTA, Maine — William Noon was the kind of guy who personified that if you need something done, find the busiest person around and ask him to do it.
Noon, who died Wednesday at age 66 after a long battle with cancer, owned and operated a sheep farm and construction company but still found time to serve on the Sanford Planning Board for 20 years. Then, a few years ago, he decided to run for state representative.
“I think someone asked him to run,” Noon’s son, Aaron Noon, said Friday. “At first we all just kind of laughed about it, but I think he really missed the planning board and just having the ability to actually make a difference and help people was why he did it. It was just a perfect opportunity given to him at the right time.”
Noon, who worked for several years alongside his father in the family construction business, said his dad constantly was noticing things that bothered him in the building and farming industries.
“There’s a lot that you come across that are wrong with both businesses,” he said. “There are people in building who are cutting corners and grossly over-developing land that used to be farmland. He was most concerned about land use and trying to help his neighbors.”
Over the years, two of William Noon’s neighbors lost their farms to fire, Noon volunteered his time to help them rebuild both times.
“He’s always gone above and beyond and out of his way to help other people to care for their land,” Aaron Noon said. “My whole life, all I’ve seen is my father work really, really hard. He instilled an incredible work ethic in my brother and I and a willingness to break our backs for other people.”
Amid the drama of the final day of this year’s legislative session Thursday was a deeply somber remembrance of Noon, the recording of which has provided considerable comfort for the Noon family, Aaron Noon said.
Numerous members of the House — Republicans and Democrats — offered tearful testimony to the Springvale Democrat’s compassion and wry sense of humor.
“He was always kind with his words to me and to anyone who came before our committee,” said Rep. Mary Anne Kinney, R-Knox, who served on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee with William Noon. “He will be greatly missed.”
Noon’s work on that committee aligned with some of his greatest passions in life. As a longtime member of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine and his two decades serving on the Sanford Planning Board, conservation and the careful stewardship of our natural resources will stand as pillars in Noon’s legacy.
“Bill was a very thoughtful, compassionate man who cared a lot for the environment and the farming community,” Rep. Russell Black, R-Wilton, said. “He was very, very passionate about it. … My only regret is that I didn’t have a lot of time to spend with him.”
He also was a character, said Rep. Patricia Hymanson, D-York, who cited his “Vote for Noon, you’ll like his tune” campaign slogan.
“He was a kind and gentle man,” Hymanson said. “On behalf of all of us in this body, I have placed a growing basil tree on his desk that I’ll give to his wife.”
That tree and a small bushel of roses sat on Noon’s otherwise empty desk for the duration of the day Thursday.
Aaron Noon said his father was very proud of his position in the House of Representatives. He maintained his hard work ethic to the end. Just last week, he drove himself to Augusta for a long session in the House and re-tiled a kitchen floor in the family camp.
“Tiling a floor is by no means an easy job, but he did it all by himself,” Noon said. “All he’d let me do is carry the water. He never complained about his sickness and never complained about being uncomfortable.”
Aaron Noon said his mother, Jean, has tried to take her husband’s death in stride but also is mourning the death of her father two weeks ago. The silver lining is that the Noon family already planned to gather this weekend.
The family is still finalizing William Noon’s obituary and plans for services and expects to make announcements early next week. He is survived by his wife, Jean, two children and three grandchildren.
“We’re all going to miss him,” Aaron Noon said. “If you were standing where I’m standing right now and could see that property that we have, the house and the barn, it’s amazing what Dad was able to accomplish. I’m just so proud that he was my dad.”
