John Linwood Fickett

JOHN LINWOOD FICKETT April 4, 1933 – September 5, 2020 John Linwood Fickett was born on April 4, 1933, the second of five children born to Jeanette Fossett Fickett Robinson and Erven Fickett. He grew up in Richmond, Maine and attended local schools. John forfeited his education and left school early to enter the workforce to support his mother and siblings after their father abandoned the family. John joined the United States Air Force after his mother remarried to Maurice (Robie) Robinson in 1950, and he was no longer needed to support the family. The local girl that captured John’s heart was swept off her feet when John returned to Richmond, proposed to Helen Friend, and spirited her away to Shreveport, Louisiana, where they were married in 1953. They welcomed their first child, Andrew, named for her father, in 1956. Helen stayed at home to raise the family while John received advanced training in electrical and mechanical maintenance, resulting in a transfer to Grenier Field in Manchester, NH in 1957. John and Helen welcomed their second son, Donald, March 11, 1960. John worked as an Instrument Technician at this location until 1960 when the base closed, and he was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force May 18, 1960. Now with two young children in tow, John and Helen moved to North Anson, Maine where John worked with Helen’s father, Andrew Friend, clearing a large woodlot. He then took a position with the Arthur Redman Lumber Company, which manufactured gun stocks for the US Military, as a Steam Plant Operator. The family enjoyed living back in Maine, and joyfully welcomed their daughter, Carole Anne. Tragedy befell the young family when Carole died in infancy of congenital heart and lung defects. The family left North Anson in 1965 when John took a position in at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as an Instrument and Power Control Systems Technician. Eager to return to Maine, the family moved to Bucksport in 1969 when John accepted a position with St. Regis Paper Company. John stayed with St. Regis ( later Champion, International Paper, and Verso) for 22 years, retiring as Instrument Superintendent and Mill Energy Coordinator, where among many other accomplishments, he was instrumental in converting systems to computer controlled processes, and reducing mill energy consumption by 25 percent. John’s sons, Andrew and Donald, followed him in a career the papermaking industry at St. Regis, Donald continuing until the mill was permanently closed in 2014. John, Helen, Andy and Donald enjoyed life in Maine. The entire family enjoyed fishing adventures, snowmobiling, camping and motorcycling together. Yes, Helen drove a motorcycle! She and John would take off for places unknown, each with a son riding as passenger. The boys eventually had their own motorcycles and the family of four would take off down the road, a sight to behold! The recreational passion the family enjoyed turned to tragedy when Andrew was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1978. The strength of John and Helen’s commitment to, and love for each other sustained them after the deaths of their two children. John had more to do. He went to tractor trailer driving school at Cole’s Training Institute, drove for Cole’s and Sunbury until he purchased three tractors and became an owner-operator, leasing to Allen’s Transfer and Storage of Augusta, Maine. Helen accompanied John on a few long haul trips, but the South was not to her liking. Helen was content to prepare all John’s meals for his journey, along with clothing and necessities. John said Helen “an outstanding wife”. John sold his trucks after six years, bought a motorhome and travelled the country with Helen. Oh, what fun they had! Their travels were planned around winter stops in Zephyrhills, Florida where they would spend the winter close to John’s sister, Cloe. John and Helen spent their remaining years in Bucksport, close to their son, Donald, who checked in on them most every day. John remained very independent, venturing out on his motorcycle with Don until he was 85 years old. Tragically, in January of this year, Helen died unexpectedly of a cerebral hemorrhage. John was lost after 67 years of marriage, Helen had been providing assistance with daily living as John’s health had begun to fail. Donald managed the monumental task of dealing with his mother’s unexpected illness and tragic death while simultaneously caring for his father by moving into John’s home and becoming his caregiver. Don is grateful for the last nine months he has spent with his father, sitting on the back porch sharing stories, enjoying meals together, and taking occasional trips in the car with his faithful dog, Susie. John passed peacefully at home, as he wished, on September 5, 2020, with Don’s loving care. John will be dearly missed by his son, Donald, his devoted dog Susie, and extended family. John was predeceased by his wife Helen, son Andrew and daughter Carole Anne as well as his parents, his stepfather, Maurice Robinson, Helen’s parents Andrew and Justina Friend, brother in law Arthur Friend. He was also predeceased by his brothers Albert and Bernard, sister Cloe Curtis, survived by sister Charlene Perkins Carr of Bowdoinham, Maine. Don would like to express gratitude to the Bucksport Ambulance Crew, the team from Northern Light Hospice who helped him through this difficult time as singular caregiver, and his cousin, Kelly. John had a long and fulfilling life with Helen, a wonderful family, and lived life to the fullest for 87 years. Final arrangements are made with Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm Street, Bucksport, Maine. There will be no public visiting hours or funeral, as John wished.