Longtime Harvard resident, library volunteer
John L. Bemis, 86, of Harvard died at the Apple Valley Center of Ayer on Feb. 19, 2012. He was born in Medway, Mass., on March 15, 1925, son of the late Ralph and Dorothy (Wilson) Bemis. He grew up in Medway and attended the Medway school system. John enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.
He was married to his wife Lois (Knights) Bemis in 1947, and they made their home in Harvard for 65 years. John worked as a carpenter for several years and later as quality control for Wang and Digital.
In his younger years he was a Boy Scout leader and involved with DeMolay. He was a member and past master of Caleb Butler Lodge of Ayer and was a past district deputy. He was also a member of Eastern Star, Ida McKinley Chapter.
Bemis loved woodworking and loved to build wooden toys. He enjoyed volunteering with the Harvard Library, rebinding books, and assisting with Loaves & Fishes in Ayer.
His survivors include his wife, Lois Bemis, of Harvard; two sons, John “Jay” Bemis and his wife Janice of Watertown, NY, and Timothy and his wife Michelin of Ayer; two daughters, Miriam Bemis of Harvard, and Jane and her husband David Case of Gardner; two brothers, Harold and his wife Edna of Medway, and Lawrence and his wife Kay Bemis of Medway. He was also the brother of the late Susan Bemis and Madeline Couch. He had nine grandchildren, Robert, Russell, and Andrew Bemis, Sandra Millhouse, Adam Holmes, Sarah Watkins, Erin Tebbetts, and Matthew and Daniel Case; and eight great-grandchildren, Caleb, Joseph, Hannah, Kenneth and Matthew Tebbetts, Logan Watkins, Wylie Holmes, and Logan Millhouse.
A Masonic Service will be held at Caleb Butler Lodge, 11 Scully Road, Ayer, on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. Burial will be private at the family’s convenience.
