ST. ALBANS — Born in West Bowdoin on Feb. 9, 1947, and most recently a resident of Dexter, John Llewellyn Gould was quick to smile and loved to laugh. The son of John Milton Gould and Bernice (Jackson) Gould, he also loved to hunt, fish, drive trucks and tell stories. A natural storyteller, Johnny would tell stories about racing cars through his hometown in the ’50s, unknowingly fishing a fishless lake while onlookers on shore laughed at him, and firing a scopeless hunting rifle multiple times at a trophy buck that stood staring at him, less than 20 yards away, blinking and unmoving.
Johnny took to the road when he got restless. His years as a long-haul truck driver took him all over the country, first with his sidekick, Boscoe, and then with JakeBrake. Comfortable talking to anyone, Johnny’s bright smile and quick wit helped him make friends wherever he went. He and JakeBrake “retired” multiple times in recent years, only to come out of retirement to drive short-haul and dump trucks locally whenever the restless urge struck again.
Although he traveled all around the country, Johnny’s home now. His traveling days ended in St. Albans on Tuesday, Jan. 31, after a brief battle with cancer.
He is survived by his mother, Bernice; his son, Shawn; stepson, Chris; daughter, Bridget; six grandchildren; a great-grandson; siblings, Robert and wife, Linda; Sandra, Randy and wife, Ottillie, and Cindy and husband, Eddie; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Johnny’s many close friends included Jody, Sharon, Ronnie and Gloria, along with many others.
He was rarely seen without his sidekick and constant companion, Boston terrier JakeBrake.
Johnny was predeceased by his father, John, in 1955.
John L. Gould
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