Kermit Michael Higgins, Beloved Gray Auto Mechanic and Family Man, Dies at 72

NEW GLOUCESTER — Kermit Michael Higgins, a longtime Gray business owner and devoted family man known throughout his community for his generosity and mechanical skill, died on Aug. 19, 2026, at his home in New Gloucester. He was 72.

Born on July 1, 1954, in Auburn to Lawrence Clayton Higgins and Doris Manchester Higgins, Kermit spent most of his life in Gray and New Gloucester. Over the course of 36 years, he owned and operated Higgins Auto Repair in Gray, a business that became a fixture for drivers across the area.

Kermit's passion for mechanics began early. He learned the trade not only from his father but also from a neighbor named Horace Grant, and the skill became a defining part of his identity. He worked on cars, trucks, ATVs, and snowmobiles — essentially anything with an engine — and had a particular love for hot rods and fast cars. A favorite saying of his captured that enthusiasm: "There's no replacement for displacement."

That passion carried into the next generation. His son, Brent, followed him into the automotive trade, continuing what Kermit viewed as a family tradition.

Away from the garage, Kermit was happiest outdoors and surrounded by the people he loved. He spent countless hours riding snowmobiles with his children, fished and hunted, and made family camping trips to Poland Spring a regular tradition. For years, he brought his family swimming at Coos Canyon in Byron.

He also had a well-known fondness for hotdogs at Lonnie’s, a local establishment that honored him by naming a dog on its menu after him: "The Kerm."

Kermit is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jeanne Louise Eldridge Higgins; his son Brent R. Cogswell and his wife Catherine; his son Michael L. Higgins and his partner Ali; his daughter Brittany J. Bartlett and her husband Trevor; six grandchildren, Angie, Brad, Jameson, Brandon, Noah, and Cameron; and his sister, Debbie Michaud. He was preceded in death by his parents.

His family was central to his life, and in his later years Kermit particularly treasured time spent with his grandchildren. His dogs — Baron, Brandi, Koty, Tut, and Sky — were also a steady source of joy.

Those who knew him consistently described him as loyal, generous, and fun-loving, the kind of person who would help anyone who needed it. His wife Jeanne put it simply: "I never heard anyone say a bad word about him."

His children remember him for his humor and for the emphasis he placed on raising them to be strong, independent, and equipped with practical life skills. He was never a man who wanted much for himself, favoring jeans and a black t-shirt above all else, and living a deliberately simple life. What mattered most to him was making sure his wife and children had what they needed.

His customers meant a great deal to him throughout the decades he spent running Higgins Auto Repair. The family has expressed gratitude to the many loyal patrons who supported the business over the years, noting that Kermit never cared about the money. He simply wanted to help people and ensure they had safe, reliable vehicles.

True to that spirit, Kermit asked that no formal services be held. In lieu of flowers or a memorial gathering, the family requests that anyone wishing to honor his memory make a donation to a local animal shelter, a cause close to his heart given his lifelong love of dogs.

The family also acknowledged the care Kermit received at the end of his life from Andwell Hospice and Wilson Funeral Home.