FRANKLIN
Sharland Lewis Leavitt passed away peacefully September 7, 2019. He was born April 18, 1924, the son of Elise and Ralph Leavitt. “Papa” or “Gramp,” as he was known to his 13 grandchildren, and informally “Charlie” to most others, was one-of-a-kind. He was a decorated soldier, serving his country in World War II as a belly gunner in the original bomber performing 25 missions, including the infamous D-Day mission of 1944. After the war, he enrolled in the University of Maine. After receiving his degree in business management, he began his career at Sears, where he rose from the bottom to the heights of general manager. He was very humble and never spoke much about his successes or even his time in the war. When you were with him, he was constantly teaching you, but in a graceful and confident way that never felt like teaching at all. That’s because his actions, and how he carried himself, did the talking for him. A skill that is often foreign in the world we now live in. Charlie defined what it means to be a man. He loved his wife, Jackie, to his very last breath, and worked hard to provide for his eight children. It is sad that he left this world, but also joyful knowing that he gets to rejoin his bride, relatives, and all his friends that he lost along the way.
He is survived by his eight children, Paula Leavitt of Franklin; Charles Leavitt and wife, Donna, of Ellsworth; Deborah Leavitt of Franklin; Timothy Leavitt and his husband, Jerry, of Franklin; James Leavitt and his wife, Audrey, of Lamoine; Andrea Pape and her husband, Fred, of Cumberland; Lynne O’Connor and her husband, Jim, of Cape Elizabeth; and Stacy Calabrese and her husband, David, of Northborough, Mass.; 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Jackie Leavitt; his brothers, Bud Leavitt and Paul Leavitt; and his daughter-in-law, Karen Leavitt.
A private celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Charlie’s name to: The Emmaus Homeless Shelter, PO Box 811, Ellsworth, ME 04605.