VINALHAVEN — Stephen M. York, 84, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Born in Vinalhaven on May 14, 1939, he was the son of Donald Arthur and Sada Alice York. One of seven kids, Stephen and his siblings attended school on Vinalhaven. After school, he got a job as a lobsterman.

After a few short years of lobstering Stephen moved on to work for Carl Williams in the boat yard. Stephen worked for Carl until the business closed, and went on to be a helping hand for Hopkins Boat Yard. He was known to be a jack of all trades, doing any job that they threw his way.

He was an avid listener to music, his favorite genre being old time country. Where most people have a television in their living room, Stephen had a stereo system. You could often find him relaxing by listening to old tunes. Stephen also had a yearly tradition of traveling to Hope at the beginning of October to stay with his friends Jenny and Ivan Pendleton, where he would start the season with hunting and snowmobiling.

Stephen was a member of the Hope Community Church where he served as a deacon for some time. Though Stephen was a very private and simple man, he was also very caring. You could find him in the early mornings downtown on Vinalhaven greeting the local shop owners as they arrived to work.

Stephen was predeceased by his parents, Donald York and Sada Young York; his brother Arthur “Hogan” York; his sister Lida Romer and her husband Lewis Romer, all of Vinalhaven.

He is survived by his brother Ladd York and his wife Karen of Warren and his brother Edward York of Vinalhaven; his sister Melinna Faith and her late husband Michael of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and his sister Esther Baldwin of Camden; several nieces, nephews and extended family whom he cared about dearly.

In lieu of flowers those who would like to make a donation in Stephen’s name may do so to the Meals on Wheels Group through the Vinalhaven Elder Services PO Box 624, Vinalhaven, Maine 04863.

Family and friends will be invited to attend funeral services that will be held at a later date in the spring of 2024. A notice with the date and time of Stephen’s service will be posted at a later date.