Hayden Dexter Temple

WOOLWICH – Hayden Dexter Temple, 91, a lifelong resident of Woolwich, passed away on Sept. 9, 2025, at MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital. He was born on April 18, 1934, the son of Albert E. Temple and Florence E. (Baker) Temple. Hayden will always be remembered for his warm and friendly greeting, “Lovely Day”, to everyone he encountered. His kind and thoughtful heart will be missed.

His education began at Chopps School No. 1, a one-room schoolhouse in Woolwich, where his mother was his teacher for eight years, later attending Morse High School. While in high school he worked at H.P. Small’s Pontiac-Cadillac garage, where his interest in auto mechanics and salesmanship earned him his nickname, “Tradin Hayden’, which stuck with him his entire life.

From high school he served in the US Army stationed in Germany for two years in the Army Corps of Engineers where he became adept at operating heavy equipment. After his service in the Army he returned to Woolwich, and his interests in mechanics and his knack for sales led him to Bodwell Motors in Brunswick, working both in the garage and sales, as well as managing Bodwell’s adjacent Bolen’s Tractor business. In 1960 he met his wife Florence Robinson while on a construction project in New Hampshire; married for 51 years, they raised three children in Woolwich, Jay, Marilee and Todd.

In the early 70’s Hayden partnered with the late Lloyd Shaw, in a construction business, building many ponds in the midcoast region and numerous construction projects, all the while Hayden continued selling used cars. He began working at Bath Iron Works in in 1975 as a Crane Mechanic, and eventually in Maintenance at the company’s Harding Plant, until his retirement in 2013 at nearly 80 years old. Hayden was most content when he was fixing something or helping someone.

He once said, “Selling cars wasn’t work; it was fun. It was the same at BIW, always something to do, something to fix, and I like that.” Thus, in his retirement, he used his experiences and skills to benefit his family and a vast number of friends, keeping busy with projects and in the community. If there was a motor that needed attention, a car that needed fixing, the nearby cemetery needed up-keeping, or he learned of someone in need, he lent a hand.

Having lived along the Kennebec River he enjoyed boating and relaxing on the river. Hayden, in his early years, was always up for an adventure (and had plenty of stories to prove it), enjoyed game shows, history, and was a fan of the food and friends he had made at The Galley and Topsham Fairground Café. He also took great pride in the adventures and accomplishments of his three granddaughers, Alexandria, Lydia and Emily, and took great pleasure watching his great-grandson, Hayden, play sports.

Hayden was a member of the North Woolwich Church and member of its Board of Trustees. As members of the Woolwich Historical Society, he and his sister were presented with the distinguished Service Award for their commitment and sharing of their Temple family history, deeply embedded in the town of Woolwich. He had a keen memory for the history of Woolwich. He was a member of the Partridge Cemetery Association, and was also a 37-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous where he gained strength, wisdom and many, many friends.

Hayden is survived by his daughter, Marilee (Val) Harris of Damariscotta, son, Todd (Christa Baade) of Woolwich; granddaughers, Alexandria Temple (Jon Kotow) and Lydia and Emily Harris, and great grandson, Hayden Kotow; sister, Marilyn Bennett and niece, Glenice Ashton, of Wiscasset, nephew, Kermit Bennett (Alexandra) of Elliottsville Twp; step-sister, Nina Teel (Dennis); several grand-nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

In addition to his parents, Hayden was predeceased by his wife, Florence (Robinson) Temple and his son, Jay Temple, stepmother Florence (Rice) Temple, and three step-brothers, Linwood, Earnest and Carl Richards.

Visiting hours will be will be at Desmond Funeral Home, 638 High St, Bath, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, 4 to 6 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at North Woolwich Church, 941 River Rd, Woolwich, 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit http://www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

the Morse HS

Scholarship Fund

In memory of Jay Temple

PO Box 1030

Bath, ME 04530