FARMINGTON -- G. Norton Luce, 76, of Coplin Plantation and Tenants Harbor, passed away Nov. 4, 2009 from cancer.

He was born Oct. 20, 1933, the first son of C. Richard and Rachel (Norton) Luce of Farmington. He graduated from Kents Hill School and Wentworth Institute, Boston. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp in the Philippines.

Norton married Jean Harris Woodbury of Portland on June 28, 1958 and lived in Farmington. He was manager and part owner of the family businesses, Farmington Oil Company and Luce Oil Company before moving to Carrabassett Valley and founding Mountain Fuel Co. and Valley Gas Company.

He was an avid skier and lifelong Sugarloafer. Norton was the chairman of Carrabassett Valley's first planning board and First Selectman of Coplin Plantation, and served many years as an officer or director on the boards of the Maine Oil Dealers Association, Kingfield Bank, Eastern Ski Association, Maine Ski Council, Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club and Downeast Yacht Club.

Norton is survived by his wife, Jean of Coplin Plantation and Tenants Harbor; son, Robert Luce and his wife, Jane, of Carrabassett Valley; granddaughters, Erica Luce, Emily Luce, Erin Luce, Elise Luce and Noelle Lake, all of Carrabassett Valley; daughter, Johanna Harris and her husband, Kyle, of Black Mountain, N.C.; brother, Jonathan Luce and his wife, Barbara, of Farmington; sister, Suzanne Twitchell and her husband, Norman, of Wilton; and nine nieces and nephews.

Memorial visitation hours will be held Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Rd., (Rtes. 2 & 27) Farmington.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. in the Richard Bell Chapel at Sugarloaf with Rev. Pamela Morse officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Sugarloaf Ski Club Scholarship Fund, Village West Box 13, Carrabassett Valley, Maine 04947.
Condolences may be sent to his family via e-mail to info@wilesrc.com.