Harold Souther is seen Aug. 24, 2022, at his home in Livermore Falls standing in front of the multiple National Weather Service Awards he has earned over the years. The fifty year award is at the top right. Nikki Decker/National Weather Service

LIVERMORE FALLS — Although not known at the time, last week’s Nature-ly column published in the Livermore Falls Advertiser was the end of an era.

The column’s author, 98-year old Harold Souther of Livermore Falls passed away Wednesday, Jan. 4. His daughter, Evelyn Norton of Farmington said her dad considered himself a simple farmer.

Souther was a farmer, but not so simple and so much more besides.

“How do you sum up his life,” Norton asked in a phone interview Thursday night. “He was an incredible human being. He still had a lot of life left to live. He was made of something a little bit special, could see the good in everyone.”

Souther had a banner year in 2022, was recognized in four different areas, Norton said. He was looking forward to another growing season, had seed catalogs on the table and seeds drying for planting, she noted.

In September 2022 Souther was presented a replica of the Boston Post Cane for being the oldest citizen in Livermore Falls. An article on the presentation noted, “[Souther] began working on the farm with his grandfather in 1941 and worked with his father in the late 1940s. He took ownership of the dairy and poultry farm in 1957. He is an active member of First Baptist Church as a deacon adviser and Moose Hill Freewill Baptist Church, both in Livermore Falls. Though he is no longer farming cows and chickens, he still enjoys driving tractor and haying the fields, gardening and growing pumpkins.”

“I am blessed with a loving, caring family,” Souther said then.

“[Harold] hadn’t been ill, was perfectly healthy right up to the very end,” Norton said. “He had been chatting with the doctors and nurses, they were in awe of him. He was an amazing person, we were lucky to have him as long as we did. It was not nearly long enough.”

Souther wasn’t in any pain, the family is thankful he didn’t end up in a nursing home, Norton said.

“Anyone that knew him loved him. He left an impression,” Norton said.

Souther’s farm has been in the family since 1914. His mother and father moved there in 1919. In July 2019 he hosted an outdoor worship service as part of the 30th Annual Open Farm Day. That year, he had already harvested 1,500 bales of hay, and expected to cut another 1,600 bales on his farm. He did all the cutting and baling himself. “It’s had growing pains,” Souther said at the time. “It’s been a home for poultry and a home for cattle, and, of course, horses. Now it’s open for storage and for hay.”

According to an April 5, 2022, article in the Livermore Falls Advertiser farmland is now leased to a neighbor and a cousin for pastureland, raising livestock, and hay production. In the fall pumpkins, squash, and cornstalk are sold. The article noted the ribbon cutting for the ReVision Energy solar project that leases part of the farm. Mount Blue, Spruce Mountain and three other Maine school districts are reducing their carbon footprint through purchase power agreements with that company.

“We think it’s a showpiece for incorporating solar while continuing farming,” Norton said as part of the release about the ribbon cutting, which continued, “Her father wanted to ensure the farm will stay in the family once he is gone and saw the solar farm as a way to ensure this. The money from the leased land will allow his family to keep the property.”

For over 50 years Souther had been part of the cooperative observing program with the National Weather Service. In January of 1971 he took over when Olfo Farrington, who had been the Livermore Falls weather observer, decided to go to Florida. At the time, Souther said he would be the observer for a year according to an Oct. 28, 2016, article on his being presented the Dick Hagemeyer Award from the National Weather Service for 45 years of accurate and consistent weather observations.

On Nov. 3, 2021, in a virtual presentation Souther was awarded the Edward H. Stoll Award for 50 years of weather observations for the NWS with an in-person presentation of the award on Aug. 24, 2022, Nikki Decker, observing program leader at NWS, said in a phone interview Jan. 6.

“Harold’s observations scanning nearly 52 years have been instrumental in providing climate record and hydrological patterns,” Decker said. The information he provided has been used locally and nationally in figuring out all kinds of weather trends, she noted.

“A former NWS director said, “Forecasts are for today, observations are for ever,”” Decker said. People don’t always remember the forecast on a given day, but can refer to the observations made to give a historical perspective, she noted. “There is a backbone to being a weather observer. Observations give us a base line so we know we are on the right track or if adjustments need to be made,” she stated.

Souther was also presented the Thomas Jefferson Award from the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which NWS is part of on Oct. 1, 2015. It is the highest award a cooperative weather observer can receive; only five of the nation’s 11,000 observers are selected for it annually.

“It is very sad not to hear Harold’s voice every single day,” Decker added.

Souther’s observations were used by more than the NWS.

On April 7, 2021, Souther wrote an article for the Livermore Falls Advertiser recounting the flood of 1936. In his account Souther recalled being given a one-year diary in 1934 and a five-year one a year later when his daily recordings became consistent. “Perhaps that is why I was contacted about recording and reporting local weather conditions on January 17, 1971,” he wrote at that time.

Souther had often been contacted by Sun Journal staff when extreme weather hit the greater Franklin County region. Two examples quickly found were in January 2019 he was part of a report on heavy rain falling in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties. Snow storms in February 2017 was the issue being reported on.

Gary Knight is heading up the search committee for a new pastor at the two churches Souther belonged to and was a personal friend. “I lived with him when I first moved back to town from college,” he said in a phone interview Friday night. “I would drive him to church and other events. I can’t name a person on this planet who has meant as much to me. He was an incredible human being, like no other.”

Souther was a very strong Christian, Knight said. “His role at First Baptist Church [Livermore Falls] was second to none. He has been involved in all aspects. He has been a rock, the cornerstone of the church.”

Souther was a longstanding senior deacon of the church, honorary now due to his age, Knight said. He was involved with the men’s breakfast fellowship and the evening hymn sing and for years headed up the biblical moment during that event, Knight noted. Souther served on the Investment Fund Committee, was a lay pastor and preached at many funerals around the state, he added.

“[Harold] was a man of the earth for sure,” Knight said. “He was one of a kind. Everybody who knew him loved him. His passing will create an immense void in our midst.”