James “Jim” “Pa” Chickering, 84, passed away the morning of Feb. 1 with his family by his side at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta. Born on Feb. 24, 1930, in Worcester, Mass., he was the son of Myrtle “Ma” and Alfred “Buck” Chickering.
Jim was the second youngest of his six sisters and one brother, Noni and husband Gordon Buzzell of Damariscotta Mills, Bess and husband Edmond “Judy” Larramee of Alna, Alberta “Birdie” and husband Ben Wheaton of Putnam, Conn., Myrtle “Babe” and husband Dimitre Stilu of Putnam, Conn., Ethel “Gebo” and husband Leonard Burdick of Chicopee Mass., Helen and husband Richard Hisler of North Newcastle, and brother Alfred “Stub” and wife Claire Chickering of Uxbridge, Mass.
He was raised in Worcester, Mass. until his parents moved the family to Waldoboro. He attended school in Waldoboro until the fifth grade, when he chose to leave school to help support his family. Jim worked for a privately owned company that installed telephone poles, some of which still exist today. At 17, Jim enrolled in the U.S. Navy, where he served on the USS Boxer CV-21. This was a time in Jim’s life that he was very proud of and often spoke of his time spent on the Boxer.
After serving in the Navy, Jim worked for a year at BIW. In 1953, he started his 30-year career working for the Nash Telephone Company. In 1972, the phone company was renamed Continental, then Contel and is now known as Tidewater Telecom.
Jim retired in 1987 and spent his time doing all the things he loved; fishing, hunting, boating, snowmobiling, gardening, and traveling the back roads of Maine in his truck with his sidekick and beloved dog, Tina. Jim enjoyed watching the Red Sox and traveling, especially his trips to Alaska. He loved to spend time with his family, and was known for sitting back and taking in all the action.
In February of 2006, Tim O’Neil, a neighbor and dear friend to Jim, together with the assistance of Dana Dow, surprised him in honoring Jim for overseeing the properties along the Damariscotta Lake shore by changing the name of Little Island to Chickering Island. Jim, along with Tim, were present at the signing of the bill to legally change the name of the island.
Jim was predeceased by his wife of 20 years, Shirley Swanner Chickering in 1972; and their daughter, Laurie.
He is survived by his daughters, Patsy and husband Robert Browne of Appleton, Cindy and husband Bill Cressey of Woolwich, and Jamie Chickering Lyons of Wiscasset. Jim, known as “Pa,” had seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, Adrienne and Tim Irons and their boys Brayden and Noah of Nobleboro, Ryan and Chelsea Bowers and their daughter Georgianna of Newcastle, David and Jessica Cressey and their son Liam of Woolwich, Billy and Holly Cressey and their children Brooke, Kyle, Kayleigh and Lexi of Gardiner, Chris Cressey and girlfriend Kelly LaRochelle and their children Alyssa and Austin of Bowdoin, Jesse Lyons and son Andrew of Wiscasset, and Zachary Lyons of Wiscasset.
A time of visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m., Mon., Feb. 9 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. A funeral service will follow the visitation, also at the funeral home, at 11 a.m. He will be laid to rest at the Highland Cemetery in Damariscotta Mills in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, PO Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
