Dustin Lee Tuttle

Dustin was born Jan. 29, 1991at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, the son of Lori J. Pickett Hayden and Carroll Tuttle Jr.

He was raised by his parents in Madison and graduated from Madison High School in 2009.

Dustin lost his mother, Lori, who was the light of his life, on July 5, 2017. Those who know the family well realize that Dustin and his mother were extremely close and she bolstered and encouraged him to complete his education and then helped him take on the job of helping to raise Makenzie Jade Tuttle —the brightest spot in Dustin’s life.

With as much energy and enthusiasm as his 2/12-year-old daughter, Dustin would play in the bouncy house, push the cart and dig in the sand —whatever Makenzie wanted, Dustin was game.

In fact, Lori, Dustin and Makenzie had just returned from a super fun vacation in Old Orchard Beach the weekend before the 4th of July. Dustin also really loved to fish.

Those closest to him knew Dustin’s great sense of humor and that he was a constant practical joker. In a visit to Tennessee with family in 2006, he pretended his mother had hit him and began to drag one foot in a store. Lori was so embarrassed because everyone was staring at her. “Stop it Dustin,” she would sputter, trying not to grin at his antics.

A truck driver and construction worker by trade, Dustin had recently become a full-time employee and right-hand man for Camilla Acres and the owner, his Uncle Harvey Austin, who used to call him his redheaded stepson and had taken him under his wing. Prior to that, Dustin had worked as a fork lift operator for Ray Realty, as a detailer for Hight Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Madison, as a truck driver for E.L. Vining in Farmington and as a construction worker in Portland.

Dustin is survived by his daughter, Makenzie Jade Tuttle, 2 1/2; his grandmother, Darla Gilbert Pickett; his Aunt Trisha and Uncle Harvey Austin; Skowhegan; cousin, Kaleb L. Austin, Skowhegan; cousin, Lexie Austin, Skowhegan; Uncle Duane L. Gilbert and wife Judith, Elizabethton, Tenn.; cousin, Kimberly Farr and husband, Dominic DePatsy, Falmouth, and cousins Hayden and Mason; cousin Duane Gilbert Jr. and his daughter, Logan Gilbert, of California and Boston respectively; Aunt Bonnie Stockdale, Worcester, Mass.; cousin Josh Stockdale of Boylston, Mass., cousin Angela Stockdale and her daughter, Annabella, Worcester, Mass. and “Grammy Jean” Pickett Wilson of Wells.

Other survivors include Aunt Shirley Blodget, Norridgewock, Uncle Keith Tuttle and his wife Carla, Norridgewock; cousin Keith Tuttle of Norridgewock; Aunt Tina and husband Jed Day, Athens; cousin, Fred Winchester, Athens and Aunt Brenda Adley, Wilton. Other survivors include a very special person in Dustin’s life and the mother of his child, Leeanna Gosselin of Norridgewock, and his close friend, Mariah Cherry, also of Norridgewock.

Dustin also was predeceased by his grandfather, James Howard Pickett, who died Aug. 6, 1968, great grandparents Clifford and Althea Gilbert, and great-grandfather Donald Pickett. Also predeceased were Dustin’s Uncle Larry Blodget and Aunt Martha Tuttle. Carroll Tuttle died July 5, 2017.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Skowhegan Federated Church, Island Ave., Skowhegan, Maine with a burial to follow at the Southside Cemetery in Skowhegan, Maine.

A special thank you to Det. Christopher Crawford of the Maine State Police and to Ben Cayford for being so supportive and helpful during our recent tragedy.

Arrangements were made by Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, ME. 04976.

Please consider honoring Dustin’s memory with a tax deductible donation to Family Violence Project. Contributions may be mailed to Family Violence Project, PO Box 304, Augusta, ME 04332; or, by visiting the website at www.familyviolenceproject.org.