SOUTH THOMASTON — Michael James Sutela, Jr., 73, died Thursday, July 27, 2017, at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, after a brief struggle with the tick-borne Babesiosis Disease.

Born in Camden, October 8, 1943, at Mae Murray's Nursing Home, he was the son of Michael, Sr. and Anna Pikkarainen Sutela. He lived all his life, with his brother, Richard, in the family's Buttermilk Lane homestead.

Mickey was a graduate of Rockland High School and studied electrical engineering at the University of Maine, Orono, for two years. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, stationed in Germany during most of his enlistment. He was an expert marksman.

During his teen years, Mickey worked with his brother Stephen at the Port Clyde sardine factory. He also worked at Hocking Granite, National Sea Products, Chem Rock, and selling Christmas Trees with his Dad and brothers at Hay Market Square in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as various other jobs.

He enjoyed vegetable gardening and canning the produce he raised. A good all-around cook, he made a great pie. One of his hobbies was riding around in his car, taking landscape pictures and whatever else caught his eye.

Mickey was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by two brothers, Stephen D. Sutela and his wife, Caroline, of Warren; Richard E. Sutela, of South Thomaston; two nieces and their families, Karen (Sutela) Heal and her husband, Orman, and their children, Amanda and Eric, all of Warren, Karla Sutela and her son, Bradford Shaffer, and step-daughter, Erika Shafer, all of Greenwood, Arizona; as well as many cousins.

Mickey's family expressed their abiding love for him, and spoke of how much they miss him everyday... especially his laugh.

A Celebration of Mickey's life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, August 4, 2017 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.