NORTH HAVEN – Wayne D. Brown, 55, died peacefully on Feb. 8, 2017, following a period of declining health, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Wayne was born on Vinalhaven on July 26, 1961. He was the son of Phillips L. Brown and Shirley Davis Brown. Wayne grew up on North Haven and graduated from North Haven Community School. On Dec. 31, 1997, he married the love of his life, Melanie Cooper.

For most of his life he was a lobsterman, fishing in Maine as generations of Browns had before. He was a Freemason with the Moses Webster lodge of Vinalhaven for 34 years. Wayne was also an avid hunter and spent many days hunting in the woods of his hometown. He was a gifted wood carver, creating duck decoys and unique burl wood artwork, which he called "Wayne's Whimsy."

Wayne will always be remembered for his wit, sense of humor and infectious laugh. He had a way of making the world brighter with his unique perspective and was definitely a one-of-a-kind, funny person with a knack for bringing a smile to everyone he met.

Wayne was predeceased by his parents; and his grandparents. He is survived by his loving wife, Melanie of North Haven; his son, Eric; and his granddaughter, Abbigail, of Mildred, Pa.; his brother, Carl and his wife, Maria, of Brunswick; and his niece, Cassandra and her husband, Jason, of Readfield. He is also survived by aunts and cousins on Vinalhaven.

A graveside service and celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 10, on North Haven.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pulpit Harbor Foundation, P.O. Box 435, North Haven, ME 04853.