Frank Pete McFarland, 90, of Christmas Cove, entered into rest, surrounded by his loving family on Nov. 2 at his home.
Pete was born on Sept. 23, 1917 in Christmas Cove, the third son of Frank Young McFarland, Sr. and Gertrude Blance Cotter McFarland. He grew up in Christmas Cove with his four sisters, Hazel, Mabel, Pauline and Phyllis, and his two brothers, Winthrop and Addison. He attended the South Bristol schools.
He was from a family of boat builders, and after his formal schooling he went to work for his father building passenger boats, lobster boats and pleasure craft, some of which included the Dauntless, the Defiant, and the Phyllis.
Pete was an enterprising young man, and at the age of 13, set up an ice cream stand at the corner of his father’s boat shop where he sold ice cream to the summer visitors. Later, this developed into a bigger enterprise near the present CCIA, as a convenience store for the public that provided ice cream, candy and gas at 17 cents a gallon.
He was never a person to sit still, so he went to work at Harry Marsh’s boat shop in Damariscotta, where he built and repaired boats. During the summer months he could be seen hauling people in a 12-passenger Pierce Arrow from the train station in Newcastle to the Holly Inn in Christmas Cove. He and his two brothers ran a coal business and delivered wood for four dollars a cord. As he once said, “Anything you could name, we did. ”
When WWII broke out, he enlisted in the Navy and spent four years as a Seaman Carpenter Striker aboard the heavy cruiser, Baltimore. After the war ended, he spent 16 years with Harvey Gamage as a journeyman and caulker. The vessels he worked on included the Victory Chimes, the Shenandoah and the Clearwater. In 1960 he opened his own shop, McFarland’s Boat Yard in Christmas Cove. There, now considered a master builder he rebuilt, constructed and refitted a variety of craft. His pride and joy was the Finest Kind, a tour vessel that he built for Oscar Hubbard of Ogunquit. That boat still plies the waters near Kennebunk.
Frank McFarland was a man of great integrity and honest values. His handshake was gospel. When he told someone a job would get done, it got done, and done right.
He is survived by his wife, Adele of Christmas Cove; daughters, Patricia Block and husband Thomas of Walpole, Cindy McFarland of Gray, and Carolyn Carrothers and husband Mark of Walpole; grandchildren, Melissa and Mike, Jennifer and Kevin, Tommy, Linda, Matthew, Nina, Haley and Karie; and great-grandchildren, Tyler, Zachary, Ethan, Brianna, Coner, and our May Baby.
Private family graveside service, Fri., Nov. 9 at the West Bristol Cemetery in Walpole. The family invites friends to join them at 2:30 p.m., Fri., Nov. 9 for a memorial service to celebrate his life at the Christmas Cove Improvement Association. The CCIA is located on Rutherford’s Island.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carpenter’s Boat Shop, 440 Old County Rd., Pemaquid, ME 04558 or South Bristol First Responders, P.O. Box 150, South Bristol, ME 04568.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Strong Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
