FRIENDSHIP — Chester M. “Chet” Burns, 75, of Friendship, passed away quietly on Feb. 21, 2016, at home. He was born in Waldoboro on July 15, 1940, to his parents, Raymond and Jenny Burns.

Chester grew up in Back Cove and attended Waldoboro schools. He married Donna McGuire in 1957. He began working at a very young age at the Texaco station in Waldoboro. He then worked for the Waldoboro garage prior to moving to Friendship. Over the course of his lifetime, Chester was a lobsterman and enjoyed taking Sharel Ann on the boat with him while Sherri was the only one of the girls that could paint a straight line on his buoys. He served as the constable for the Town of Friendship, he volunteered as a firefighter, was a Mason as well as a Shriner for the Kora Temple. Chester worked for Friendship Plumbing and Heating for 25 years before starting his own business, Chet's Heating Service. Chester taught his trade to his son, Chad, who Chester was very proud of.

Chester was very passionate about many things in his life, but nothing brought him more joy then his family. Chester enjoyed going on moose hunts, collecting hand carved birds as well as model motorcycles and old cars.

This past summer Chester was honored as being a player on the very first Waldoboro Little League. This was a wonderful testament to all the great things he had done in his life.

Chester had a great love for his grandchildren and especially loved to take them on his tractor.

Chester was predeceased by his son, Chester M Burns Jr.; his parents, Raymond and Jenny Burns; a brother, Raymond “Sonny” Burns Jr.; and a sister, Hazel Sargent.

Chester is survived by his wife of 58 years, Donna Burns; his son, Sulo Pietila of Nobleboro; his daughters, Sherri and Butch Taylor of Cushing, and Sharel Ann and Kenneth Kearly Jr. of Chesapeake, Va.; and his son, Chad and Michele Burns of Friendship; as well as a brother, Kenny and Dorothy Burns of Friendship; a sister, Joyce Richards, also of Friendship; his grandchildren, Darcie Crabtree of Cushing, Skip Pietila of Liberty, Derek Orff of Thomaston, Kenneth “Skipper” Kearly III of Virginia, Amanda Tozier of Warren, Kendra Kearly of Virginia, Olivia Pietila of Nobleboro, Chad “Buddy” Burns of Waldoboro, Janelle “Nellie” Burns of Friendship, Cody Burns of Friendship and Hannah Burns of Friendship. Chester also had 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Hall Funeral Home and Tribute Center of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.