Robert Burns Phair

ROBERT BURNS PHAIR LIMESTONE Limestone – Robert Burns Phair, 92, husband of Dorothy I. (DeMerchant) Phair, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday evening, October 25, 2020 at a Caribou nursing facility, following a period of declining health. He was born October 26, 1927 in Limestone, the son of Burns and Eva (Morris) Phair. He was a graduate of the Limestone High School, Class of 1945 and went on to serve his country with the United States Navy as a weatherman. After his discharge he attended and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono. Bob taught driver’s education at the Limestone High School for 9 years. He received his Masters Degree in Library Science from the UMO, and then became Librarian at Limestone Jr.-Sr. High School, until his retirement in 1987. He was a an active member of the Limestone United Methodist Church, the Aroostook Retired Teachers Association, Limestone Masonic Lodge, AF & AM # 214 where he held several offices and the Limestone High School Alumni Association. Bob was also a member of the Maine Retired Teachers Association, Maine Association of Retirees, Maine Association of School Librarians, and the Limestone Historical Society. He was a former Trustee for the Robert Frost Memorial Library, and a former driver for Meals on Wheels. Bob was married to Dorothy I. DeMerchant of September 27, 1975. He and his wife Dorothy were named Limestone’s Outstanding Citizens of the Year in 2002 for their many volunteer activities. He received the County Leadership Award from the Aroostook Retired Teachers Association at the State Annual Convention in Augusta in 2007. He was greatly interested in the Phair and Morris genealogies and was an avid history buff, especially in the Civil War and World War II. Bob was proud to have completed a Tres Dias Spiritual Weekend Retreat during the 1980’s. In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by one sister, Helen Phair Knight; and a brother-in-law, Clayton DeMerchant. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dorothy I. Phair of Limestone; one stepson, Ronald Philbrick and his wife Deborah of Bristol, VA; one stepdaughter, Diane Nadeau and her husband Alan of Greene; step-grandchildren, Jessica Nadeau and her son Chase of Lewiston, Joshua Nadeau of Winthrop, Clint Philibrick and his wife Stacey, and their son, Jake, and daughters, Adelynn and Ruby Ann of Johnson City, TN, Carrie Philibrick Price and her husband Zane, and their son, Kaleb of Abingdon, VA; brother-in-law, Philip DeMerchant and his wife Marilyn of Bullhead City, AZ; niece, Susan Merchant and her husband Everett of Caribou; nephew, Keith Knight of Limestone; great niece, Peggy Wilson and her husband Chris and their children, Landon and Lilianna, all of Bangor; great nephew, William Merchant and his wife Kylie Morrell and their children Tristan and Aspen, all of Caribou; several cousins, special family/friends, Mavis Churchill, Carol Castle, both of Limestone, Rev. Ellen Cleaves and Malcolm Hare of Little Madawaska Lake, Gloria McLaughlin of Fort Fairfield, and Eleanor Burtsell of Swartz Creek, MI; any many more friends to numerous to list. Friends may call Friday, October 30, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. Masonic and funeral services will be private. Please wear a facemask and follow social distancing protocols. Interment with military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Caribou. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Mr. Phair to the Limestone United Methodist Church, 2 Burleigh Avenue, Limestone, Maine 04750 or the Robert Frost Memorial Library, 42 Main Street, Limestone, Maine 04750. Envelopes will be available at the service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.gibersondorseyfuneralhome.com .