Sullivan
January 26, 1933-December 27, 2020
On Dec. 27, 2020, Patricia L. Dunbar passed away peacefully in her sleep with family at her side. She was born Jan. 26, 1933, in Ellsworth to Victor and Evelyn (Flood) Campbell. She attended Ellsworth schools and graduated from Ellsworth High School in the Class of 1952. Shortly after graduation, while working at JJ Newberry’s, Patricia fell for the love of her life, Allen “Bussie” Dunbar. They married in October of 1954 and resided in Sullivan. Patricia was a homemaker, raising three daughters, and helped run the family businesses, Abraham’s Restaurant, Dunbar Store and Dunbar Construction. She was known to greet customers with a can of Tab in her hand and a smile. When it came to the construction side, she had an unbreakable patience with Bussie. Many nights his tinkering would lead off with “I’ll be in in a minute” and end with him returning hours later; there she would be waiting with his dinner warm in the oven and his glass of milk in the fridge, unbothered.
Over the years, as the girls grew up and moved out, her doors became wide open to her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who she helped love, nurture and raise throughout her retirement.
Over the years Pat, referred to by most as “Mammie Pat,” spent her weeks at home with family and her weekends during the summer at her camp on Flanders Pond. She would tell you a crowd would “nerve” her up, but she loved every minute of it. She was the hostess with the mostess, fixing meals on a whim and offering coffee and tea to anyone who came through the door. Pat also had a fondness for the winter months, during which she would grab her daughters or grandchildren and run away to a hotel for the weekend to see her beloved Portland family. Pat served as a sounding board for many, and offered a helping hand whenever needed. Everyone who knew Pat probably had a moment that she filled you in on town happenings or told you just how it was with her unfiltered wit that always guaranteed a fit of laughter. You never knew what she was going to say, and we loved her for it. Pat will be missed by so many.
Pat was predeceased by her husband, Allen “Bussie” Dunbar, in 1990, her beloved daughter Debra Briggs in 2005, beautiful granddaughter Whitney Doughty in 2019, her parents, a sister, Shirley Fickett, and brother, Donald Harris. She is survived by daughter Lynn and husband, James Murphy, Dawn and husband, Tim Doughty, brother Courtney Campbell, son-in-law Tim Briggs, three grandchildren, Erika Briggs (Nicholas Gatcomb), Courtney Briggs (Brandon Johnson) and Allen Doughty (Emma Sweeney), and three great-grandchildren, Ian and Bryleigh Gatcomb and Gracin Johnson, many nieces, nephews and special friends and family members who have always referred to her as “Aunt Pat.”
We as a family would like to extend a special thank you to the MDI Hospital and staff for taking such great care of Patricia throughout her stays. The grandchildren would also like to thank Dawn, Lynn & husbands for opening their homes and being “Mammie Pat’s” primary caregivers during her later years.
A burial and celebration of life will be held at a later date. If you wish, memorial contributions may be made in her name to: The Whitney Doughty Memorial Scholarship Fund at Sumner High School 2456 U.S. Highway 1, Sullivan, ME 04664 or the Sullivan Volunteer Fire Department, 1888 U.S. Highway 1, Sullivan, ME 04664.