ALLAGASH – Donald Murry Hafford Sr., 79 years old, of Allagash, Maine, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 26, 2025. He was surrounded by his family.
Donald was born in the Allagash Plantation in 1946. Growing up on the Allagash River he developed an appreciation and love for the great outdoors and could be found outside active in every season. In the spring he enjoyed making maple syrup and picking fiddleheads. In the summer he loved to go fishing, canoeing, camping and guiding family and friends down the river. In the winter he liked trapping and snowshoeing, but his favorite season of all was fall. In the fall is where he truly enjoyed the outdoors while hunting, walking in the woods and taking pictures of the fall foliage.
Donald also had a love for animals especially his two white Shepards, Buddy and Jake, and enjoyed taking “the boys” for long rides and ice cream. His favorite past time was spent tying flies, playing pool, playing chess but most of all he loved to play cribbage. He was also an aid reader of and collected Louis L’Amour books.
His parents were Samuel and Ida (McKinnon) Hafford. He is survived by his brother, Gary Hafford. He was predeceased by his sister, Beatrice Hafford; his brothers, Roy Hafford, Pat Hafford, Levert Hafford, Clarence Hafford, Albert Hafford, Thomas Hafford, and Gordon Hafford.
Donald attended Allagash School and later attended the University of Maine at Presque Isle, majoring in business.
Throughout his early years Donald worked as a logger in the north Maine woods. He also worked for local farmers during harvest season. He later became self-employed as an owner and operator of a trucking business. He also was the owner of a family arcade and billiards hall. In 1988 he moved to CT where he was employed at the Torrington Company, built a home and retired. He moved back to Maine to enjoy his retirement years. Wherever he traveled, in his heart Allagash was always home.
Donald leaves behind his five children, Donald Hafford Jr. of Benton, Maine, David and Julie (Hafford) Kern of Oakland, Maine, Robert “Bob” Hafford of Oakland, Maine, Amy (Hafford) Staton of Waterville, Maine, and Matthew and Tess (Hafford) Grous of Ashford, Connecticut; his nine grandchildren, Knate Voisine of Presque Isle, Maine, Courtney Kern of Chesterville, Maine, Kristen Kern Nelson of Canaan, Maine, Addie and Kamden Hafford of Oakland, Maine, Sean Staton Jr. of Waterville, Maine, Joshua Gluz of Willington, CT, and Emma and Ethan Grous of Ashford, CT; along with seven great-grandchildren, Dawson, Benjamin, Addison, Roman, Raelynn, Hallie, and Josie. The family is comforted and rejoice in the promise of Donald’s eternal salvation.
There was a private family ceremony with Pastor Matthew Grous and the family at the Allagash Falls on Friday July 4, 2025, and a morning of remembrance on Saturday July 5, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Two Rivers Lunch for coffee and cribbage, where stories were shared with family, friends, and all his children.
He is now at peace in the arms of his Savior.
Donald was born in the Allagash Plantation in 1946. Growing up on the Allagash River he developed an appreciation and love for the great outdoors and could be found outside active in every season. In the spring he enjoyed making maple syrup and picking fiddleheads. In the summer he loved to go fishing, canoeing, camping and guiding family and friends down the river. In the winter he liked trapping and snowshoeing, but his favorite season of all was fall. In the fall is where he truly enjoyed the outdoors while hunting, walking in the woods and taking pictures of the fall foliage.
Donald also had a love for animals especially his two white Shepards, Buddy and Jake, and enjoyed taking “the boys” for long rides and ice cream. His favorite past time was spent tying flies, playing pool, playing chess but most of all he loved to play cribbage. He was also an aid reader of and collected Louis L’Amour books.
His parents were Samuel and Ida (McKinnon) Hafford. He is survived by his brother, Gary Hafford. He was predeceased by his sister, Beatrice Hafford; his brothers, Roy Hafford, Pat Hafford, Levert Hafford, Clarence Hafford, Albert Hafford, Thomas Hafford, and Gordon Hafford.
Donald attended Allagash School and later attended the University of Maine at Presque Isle, majoring in business.
Throughout his early years Donald worked as a logger in the north Maine woods. He also worked for local farmers during harvest season. He later became self-employed as an owner and operator of a trucking business. He also was the owner of a family arcade and billiards hall. In 1988 he moved to CT where he was employed at the Torrington Company, built a home and retired. He moved back to Maine to enjoy his retirement years. Wherever he traveled, in his heart Allagash was always home.
Donald leaves behind his five children, Donald Hafford Jr. of Benton, Maine, David and Julie (Hafford) Kern of Oakland, Maine, Robert “Bob” Hafford of Oakland, Maine, Amy (Hafford) Staton of Waterville, Maine, and Matthew and Tess (Hafford) Grous of Ashford, Connecticut; his nine grandchildren, Knate Voisine of Presque Isle, Maine, Courtney Kern of Chesterville, Maine, Kristen Kern Nelson of Canaan, Maine, Addie and Kamden Hafford of Oakland, Maine, Sean Staton Jr. of Waterville, Maine, Joshua Gluz of Willington, CT, and Emma and Ethan Grous of Ashford, CT; along with seven great-grandchildren, Dawson, Benjamin, Addison, Roman, Raelynn, Hallie, and Josie. The family is comforted and rejoice in the promise of Donald’s eternal salvation.
There was a private family ceremony with Pastor Matthew Grous and the family at the Allagash Falls on Friday July 4, 2025, and a morning of remembrance on Saturday July 5, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Two Rivers Lunch for coffee and cribbage, where stories were shared with family, friends, and all his children.
He is now at peace in the arms of his Savior.
