FORT FAIRFIELD – Larry A. Libby, 60, beloved husband of Judy V. (Rideout) Libby, passed away unexpectedly Thursday evening, Aug. 11, 2011, at home doing one of his favorite things, playing basketball with his grandson. He was born July 28, 1951, in Muniac, New Brunswick, son of Lewis J. and Beulah (Giberson) Libby.
He attended Mars Hill and Limestone schools, was a graduate of Limestone High School, Class of 1970, and furthered his education at Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, Presque Isle. Larry proudly served his country with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal, achieving the rank of corporal. Larry was married to Judy V. Rideout, April 27, 1974, and had been employed as a firefighter at the former Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, for many years until relocating to Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in 1994. He served as fire chief for the Naval Group Support Activity in Winter Harbor from 1995 to 2002, at which time he and Judy moved back to the County, where Larry worked part time at Hillside IGA, Irving Mainway and the former Higgins’ Market, Fort Fairfield. Mr. Libby was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul Lockhart Post No. 6187, Fort Fairfield, Fort Fairfield American Legion Walter Lovely Post No. 27, and a life member of Disabled American Veterans. Larry enjoyed all sports, especially basketball, and coached basketball games at the middle and elementary school levels. He will be remembered for maintaining an impeccable home and lawn, and loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren. A people person through and through, Larry enjoyed jokes, sharing trivia and just loved to talk to friends and strangers alike.
He was predeceased by his parents. Larry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Judy V. Libby of Fort Fairfield; one son and daughter-in-law, Tyler L. and Melissa Libby of Calais; one daughter and son-in-law, Tammy A. and Garrett Cyr of Fort Fairfield; two brothers and sister-in-law, Gary and Sharon Fitzherbert of Upper Kent, New Brunswick, and Dale DeMerchant of Petawawa, Ontario; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Joy and Cecil Theriault of Blaine, Lorraine and Carl Inman of Upper Kent, New Brunswick, Barbara and Gary Inman of Kilburn, New Brunswick, and Bertha McGuire of Aroostook Junction, New Brunswick; four grandchildren, Janae Libby and Isaac Cyr, both of Fort Fairfield, Toni and Silas Libby, both of Calais; numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind one “honorary daughter,” Michelle Lasselle of Orrington; two “honorary granddaughters,” Logan Bubar and Brenna LeVasseur, both of Fort Fairfield; as well as special friends, Peter Cyr of Carlingford, New Brunswick, and Scott Brown of Gulfport, Miss. He will be fondly remembered by his fellow firefighters at Loring and Pope Air Force bases, as a well as at the Naval Group Support Activity.
Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15, at the Celebration Center, Houlton Road, Fort Fairfield, with the Rev. Harry Lewis officiating. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held at VFW Paul Lockhart Post No. 6187, Presque Isle Street, Fort Fairfield, immediately after the funeral service. Interment with military honors will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Caribou. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Larry to Aroostook County Chapter of DAV, Smart Ricker Chapter No. 10, care of Cmdr. Donald Pelkey, 43 Riverside Ave., Fort Fairfield, ME 04742. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church.
HOO-RAH!