Palmer B Pearson ’51

Searsport — On Friday, June 21, Palmer “Pete” B. Pearson passed away at age 84, surrounded by family at a Bangor hospital. Born Oct. 12, 1923, in Belfast, Pete exemplified the true Maine citizen his whole life. He graduated from the Crosby High School in Belfast and went on to the Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1951 with a B.S. degree in marine biology.

In 1952 he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Chellis, and was employed at Maine Maritime as an instructor and watch officer on the training vessel, The State of Maine. In 1954 Pete attended the University of Maine in Orono and completed a degree in chemical engineering. This led to his employment by the Delta Chemical Company in Searsport where he worked until retirement in 1985.

Active in his community for his entire life, Pete held many positions in Searsport and Belfast organizations. He was a member and past president of the Belfast Rotary Club and had served on the Board of Directors for the Searsport Water District, the Waldo County General Hospital; he was a member of the Maine Association of Engineers, Mariners Lodge, the Waldo Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, the Anah Temple Shrine, and the Waldo County Shrine Club. He served as Selectman for the Town of Searsport and as Chairman of that group for three years. He also was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Searsport, serving as a member, a trustee, and a director. Additionally, he was an active member of the Mosman Park Association and a board member of the YMCA.

Pete and his wife Barbara spent their retirement years traveling and wintering in Florida. Trips overseas with dear friends Carl and Evelyn Robbins were especially memorable ones.

Pete is survived by wife Barbara of 61 years, daughter Debbie Bryant of Belfast, son Jeff and his wife Lori of Searsport, his grandchildren Ashley Reynolds and her husband Corey of Morrill and Ben Pearson of Searsport as well as his great grandchildren, Hope and Harper Reynolds of Morrill whom he loved dearly. He also leaves Phil and Judy Crosby and family of Belfast, Betty Breslin of Belfast, Ron and Jan Bisbee and their sons, Wyatt and Tanner of Winterport. Among Pete’s many friends, his buddies from the morning meetings at Weaver’s Bakery will surely miss him.

Visiting hours will be 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 1, at Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport. A short Masonic service will be held immediately following the viewing. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in Searsport.

Donations may be made in Pete’s memory to the Rotary Club Scholarship program, Waldo County Hospital, or Waldo County YMCA.

The family wishes to thank the Searsport Ambulance Crew, Waldo County Hospital, and Eastern Maine Medical Center for their care and support to Pete during this past year.