Title	Mr.
Last Name	Stevens
First Name	Irving
Middle Name	L.
Maiden Name
Nick Name	Fishbones
Place of Birth	Surry,Me
Date of Birth	1910-06-21
Place of Death	Pittsfield,ME
Date of Death	1999-05-04
Publication	Bangor Daily 5-1999
Obituary	IRVING'FISHBONES'STEVENS CORINNA - Irving L. Stevens, 88, beloved father, brother, author and local celebrity, went home to be with the Lord, May 4,1999, at the home of his sister, Dorathy Glazier in Pittsfield. He was born June 21,1910, at Surry, the son of Omar and Amanda (Henry) Stevens. He was best known as the in- ventor of Irvin's Fly Dope and as a storyteller in the true Yankee tradi- tion, always finding humor and hope in the most desperate of situa- tions. He marketed his insect repel- lent, made from natural ingredients, in four northeast states beginning in 1962. For 25 years, many country store patrons looked forward each spring to a new collection of "Irving's Anecdopes", a short col- lection of humorous poems reminis- cent of Burmo Shove ditties, which he distributed free with his fly dope. Even at the age of 78, he wanted to continue selling his product store to store, but he was forced out of the business by EPA rule changes and exorbitant registration fees. His written works include an autobiog- raphy, a collection of downeast sto- ries and poetry. As a teenager, prompted by downeast Depression Era poverty and inspired by the motto "See America First" on a passing box car, he rode the rails across eastern and Midwestern America, seekinq honest work wherever he could find it. His auto- biography, Hoboing In The 1930's cronicles his adventures between 1933 and 1941. He was honored in 1988 at the National Hobo Conven- tion in Britt, Iowa, where he was selected popular vote as National King of the Hobos. His other publi- cations include Mandy's Washtub, Dear Fishbones and Hobo Poetry. He served as a radio repairman in the Army Air Corps during World War 11 and worked for Remington Arms and Bullard Machine Tool in Bridgeport, Conn. In 1957, he brought his six children back to Maine and was employed in the drill room at FayScott in Dexter for 15 years. He retired from machinist work in 1973, but kept active teaching astronomy to boy scouts, making cribbage boards and vol- unteerin as a clown in local po- rades. Along with his writing, he was also a gifted harmonica player and enjoyed entertaining many nursing home residents and gram- mar school students. He was a member of Corinna Post no.73 American Legion and attended the Pleasant Street Christian Church in Corinna. He is survived by three sons and their wives, James and Linda Stev- ens of Newport, Richard and Bonnie( Russell of Worcester, Mass., Philip and Debbie Batchelder of Abbot; three daughters and their husbands Constance and Dennis Hall of Dex- ter, Brenda and Jay Hall of St. Al- band Marybeth Cribbs of Wa- terville; two sisters, Sidney Hanscom of West Palm Beach, Fla. and Dorathy Glazier of Pittsfield; 13 grandchildren, four great- grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thurs- day at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Chapel, Exeter Road Corinna. Fu- neral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, May 7, at Pleasant Street Christian Church, Corinna, with the Rev. Edward Jaworski officiating.