The Daily Me

OBITUARIES

JAMES "JIM" A. BROWN
DOVER-FOXCROFT - James A. Brown, 57, husband of Barbara O. Brown, died Nov. 8, 2008, at First Buttermilk Pond, Bowerbank. Jim was born Oct. 6, 1951, in Dexter, a son of Malcolm E. and Barbara (Whalen) Brown. No other boy enjoyed growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in Dover-Foxcroft more than Jim.

He graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1970, and from the University of Maine - Orono, in 1974. On July 13, 1974, he married Barbara O'Brien, who he met and fell in love with his freshman year of college. Ever since the fifth grade, Jim knew he wanted to be a teacher. Upon graduating from the University of Maine - Orono, he was immediately hired by his old high school principal, Tilson Thomas, as an English teacher and assistant football coach.

The fall of 1974 saw Jim's return to the halls and playing fields of Foxcroft Academy. Thousands of students have benefited through the years that Jim was at the academy. In his 34 years, he coached football and softball; ran the clock and scoreboard for football, basketball and soccer; was the senior class advisor; department chair of the English department; prom advisor; and graduation coordinator. It wasn't just the students of Foxcroft who benefited from Jim's devotion to his hometown, as Jim deeply loved the entire community of Dover-Foxcroft.

He was on the Dover-Foxcroft Board of Selectmen from 1987 to 1992, serving as its vice chair in 1989 and serving as its chair in 1990. From 1991 to 1993, he was on the airport advisory committee. As an avid student of Dover-Foxcroft history, he was a big asset to Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, of which he was a member since 1994, serving on its board of directors for many years and serving as its vice president since 2005. Jim enjoyed a deep love of reading and wanted to help Thompson Free Library all he could.

He was a member of its executive committee for many years and served for the last five years as president of the library association and its executive committee. In this role, he was instrumental in heading up and guiding the library's most recent expansion. Jim was also deeply committed to trying to bring industry and growth to Piscataquis County.

As such he was a founding member of Pine Crest Development Corp. in 1996. He served on its board of directors in 2000 and became its president in 2004.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Barbara; his son, Scott and his wife, Jessica, of Bar Mills; his son, Eric and his wife, Elise, of Topsfield, Mass.; his first grandchild, 8-month-old Jack; his brother, Steven and his wife, Storie, of Hampden; his brother, William and Corinne Fish of Ashland; his sister, Susan Chase of Hampden; his brother, Mark Brown and his wife, Linda, also of Hampden; his uncle, Henry "Mick" Whalen and his wife, Jean, of Dexter; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in Jim's honor 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Foxcroft Academy gymnasium.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Foxcroft Academy Horizon Scholarship Fund, 975 West Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426; Thompson Free Library, 186 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426; or Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, 28 Orchard Road, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

Arrangements are in the care of Lary Funeral Home. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.

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