Oakland, Me - Thomas "Chris" Bedard, 46, Peacefully passed away after a nearly 2-year courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on December 28, 2023, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 10, 1977, the son of Thomas & Gloria (Bulmer) Bedard of Oakland. He attended Oakland schools, graduating from Messalonskee High School in 1996. Chris, being a lover of horses, found himself working with them on different occasions throughout his earlier years and really enjoyed being around them. For much of his life, he enjoyed working in the woods. In his teens, he worked for the Stratton family and J & M Logging cutting firewood, running saw, and operating skidder. As a young man he briefly drove for Valley Distributors in Oakland and later, he was an equipment operator and wheeler driver for Maine DOT out of the Fairfield & Pittsfield sheds. He returned to J & M Logging in Belgrade in 2006 hauling wood to local mills for the next 13 years. After briefly working in the sawmill at Tukey Bros Lumber in Belgrade, Chris's career "in the woods" ended at Hammond Lumber sawmill in Belgrade in March 2022 when he received his diagnosis of leukemia. Chris met Nicole (Doucette), the love of his life in 1997, and they married in 2003. They built a beautiful life together with 3 children and in the past 3 years, 2 grandsons. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and a proud Papa, always putting family first and willing to lend a hand when somebody needed him. He was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He was often quiet, but those that truly knew him, knew he had a quick wit and loved to tease. As an animal lover, Chris had many pets throughout his life. He considered his dogs to be a part of his family and through the years he had special companions Sadie & Maulie. More recently, on his worst days he enjoyed having his Rottweiler puppy Chyna at his side to comfort him. Chris enjoyed most activities that placed him outdoors. He loved working in his large garden, riding four wheelers, stargazing, hiking, sitting by waterfalls, as well as hunting and fishing. He particularly loved family camping trips. Chris also enjoyed hosting BBQs where he could hone his skills & make a delicious meal in his smoker. Chris was predeceased by his grandparents Emile "Joe" & Ruth Bedard, Wallace & Ruth Bulmer, Jo Vigue and father-in-law Ward "Skeet" Burkhart. He is Survived by his wife Nicole of 20 years, children Aspen (Logan) Edgecomb of Oakland, Preston & Brynleigh; grandsons Odin & Atticus Edgecomb; parents Thomas & Gloria Bedard of Oakland; sisters Kimberly Barns & Toni (Ralph) Lenfestey of Oakland; In-laws Tammy Burkhart of Albion, Mark & Brenda Doucette of Belgrade; Grandmother-in-law Jackie Doucette of Sidney; sisters-in-law Rachel Doucette, Tiffany (Doug) Eldridge, Melissa Meng and Tara (Marc) Wolman; brothers-in-law James (Melissa) Doucette, Eli (Mindie) Doucette and Jared Doucette; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, including special cousins Travis Bedard & Jim Woodside; and his best friend Patrick Lizotte. The Family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Kellie Sprague and Chris's hematology team at Maine Medical Partners Cancer Care and the nurses at the IV Therapy Center in South Portland as well as all the nurses on CFT7 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. When he was told that he was the toughest they'd ever seen, it gave him what he needed to keep pushing through all that was thrown at him. Thank you all for giving him strength and being his "cheerleaders". A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday January 21st, 2024, from 1-4pm at the Winslow VFW located at 175 Veteran Drive in Winslow, Maine 04901.