THOMASTON — Victor U. Ames, 83, died peacefully on March 6, 2016, surrounded by his loving family, at Quarry Hill in Camden.

Born in Vinalhaven on Dec. 3, 1932, he was the son of Lavon S. and Julia E. Ames. He attended Vinalhaven schools and spent most of his life on either Matinicus or Vinalhaven islands, calling them both home.

He was always on the water, with a love for lobstering, seining and any kind of commercial fishing.

In the mid 1950s he learned to fly an airplane and his daughter remembers him practicing landings and take-offs from the former Carl Ames property on Vinalhaven. His plane was purchased by C.L. Bickford, who Victor worked for both spotting fish and fishing for herring. Later he had his own outfit and plane. Flying was not just for business, but something that he loved from a young age. He spent years flying with his seining outfit in Vinalhaven and Matinicus.

His family spent many Sundays aboard sardine carriers when the boats would come to pick up the fish. He lobstered and lived on Matinicus a good part of his life and he and his wife Joan worked together there, owning their own buying station.

Victor had a great love of the outdoors, and hunting trips were always a favorite pastime in his earlier years. He also loved music and dancing. His daughter, Lorraine, remembers him as never afraid to take a chance at things and always living his life to the fullest.

He was a member of the Rockland Lodge of Elks.

Predeceased by his brothers, Jack, Murray, Lavon and Raymond Ames; and his sister, Isabelle Osgood; and most recently his youngest daughter, Allison “Squee” Morris, to cancer; Victor is survived by his wife, Joan Ames of Thomaston; his daughters, Lorraine Walker and her husband, Ronald, of Vinalhaven and Tenants Harbor, and Julie Miller and her family of Tenants Harbor; a son-in-law, Robert Morris and his son, Corey Morris, both of Tenants Harbor; a sister, Jackie Dyer of Camden; a brother, Alvah Ames of Rockland; a step-son, John Armstrong and his family of Tenants Harbor; brother-in-law and his wife, Buzz and Janice Taft of Tenants Harbor; as well as several nieces and nephews.

A graveside celebration of Victor's life will be held at Ridge Cemetery in Martinsville in the spring.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.