James L. Brackett, 96, of New Harbor, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Nov. 20. Born in Pemaquid Beach on June 19, 1918, he was the son of the late Ambrose and Mattie (Weeks) Brackett.
At the age of 5, he started lobstering with his father in John’s Bay and the Pemaquid River. At 10 he was on his own with a skiff and 15 traps. After graduating from Bristol High School in June 1935, he took Diesel instruction classes at both Wentworth Institute and Hemphill Diesel Eng. School in Boston. After completion, he worked on an oil tanker delivering crude oil along the East Coast. While on leave from his job in July 1939, he met his wife, Leona, at Pemaquid Point. They were married in Dec. 1941, making their home in New Harbor and enjoyed 71 years together before her passing in June of 2013.
He enlisted in the Navy a year later and served as a Chief Motor Machinist’s Mate in the engine room of the DE5, USS Evarts during WWII. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to New Harbor and resumed lobstering, this time having a boat with an engine. He continued to lobster before retiring in 2008, just days before his 90th birthday.
One of his hobbies was working with wood. During the winter months when lobsters are scarce, he built several skiffs in his barn on the Huddle Road. One winter he decided to build his first wooden lobster boat. After all the kinks were out, to the roar of the crowd, she was launched and didn’t sink. With that success, he and his two co-workers continued to build 15 more wooden lobster boats, for himself and other local lobstermen. In 1947, he and four others got together and formed the Pemaquid Harbor Fishermen’s Co-op, the second in the State of Maine and the oldest still in operation.
James and Leona loved to travel. In 1968, they put a camper shell in the bed of their pickup truck and traveled to the World’s Fair in Montreal. Over the next 35 years, they traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Central America. In 1993, they traded their motor home for a winter residence in Bonita Springs, Fla., returning in May so James could set out those lobster traps for spring fishing.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Alonzo; and sisters, Florabelle, Ella, and Barbara.
James is survived by his children, Richard Brackett and wife Linda of Bridgewater Corners, Vt., Sherrill Callahan of New Harbor, and Stephen Brackett of New Harbor; former daughter-in-law, Cynthia Brackett of Fort Myers, Fla.; grandchildren, Michael Callahan and wife Kristi of Bellingham, Mass., Jennifer Leeman and husband Martin of Bristol, Stephen Brackett and fiancée Karen Etheridge of Round Pond, Neil Prior of Jacksonville, Fla., Robert Brackett of Scottsdale, Ariz., Elizabeth Whitman and husband Duke of Redmond, Wash., and John Brackett and girlfriend Sheila McLain of New Harbor; great-grandchildren, Amanda Callahan and Jeremy Cullen of Medway, Mass., Cody Leeman of Bristol, Mason and Dylan Brackett of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Anna Kathryn Brackett of New Harbor; and great-great-grandson, Jaxson James Callahan of Medway, Mass.
Relatives and friends are invited to join James’ family for a service to celebrate his life at 11 a.m., Sat., Nov. 29 at the New Harbor United Methodist Church. The Rev. Kelly Harvell will officiate. Interment will be in the New Harbor Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in James’ memory may be made to the Bristol First Responders, 104 Southside Rd., New Harbor, ME 04554.
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.
