SOUTHWEST HARBOR
James R. Carroll
February 5, 1939 – September 30, 2018
James R. Carroll passed away at his home in Southwest Harbor on Sept. 30, 2018. Jim was born in Bar Harbor on Feb. 5, 1939, to Richard T. and Mary (Harriman) Carroll of Southwest Harbor. While growing up on MDI, our Dad gleaned great pleasure in hunting, fishing, playing ball, exploring and spending time at the family camp on Rum Island.
He graduated from Pemetic High School in 1957 and then from Maine Central Institute in 1958 as a postgraduate. Jim proudly served his country for three years in the United States Army as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He was a lifetime member of the Eugene M. Norwood American Legion Post 69 and of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. He attended college at both the University of Arizona and then Washington State Teachers College in Machias, where he met and married his wife, Maxine Savage, and her two daughters Wendy Jo and Wanda Sue.
Jim began his law enforcement career with the Maine Warden Service in 1964 and was assigned patrol duties in the Clayton Lake District of Maine’s North Woods. In 1967, he took a coastal warden position with the Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries and enjoyed a rewarding career with Maine’s Marine Patrol, retiring in 1988 as a division lieutenant. Maxine and Jim’s career with Marine Patrol moved them to various places along Maine’s coast including Harrington, Freeport, Corea, Gouldsboro, Prospect Harbor and eventually back to his hometown of Southwest Harbor. During that journey, they added two sons, John Wesley and Jay Richard, and a third daughter, Jennifer Lynn, to the family. Upon entering retirement from law enforcement, Jim soon embarked on a second career driving a truck for Doug Gott and Sons construction company, where he worked for nearly 25 years and made many friends.
Jim Carroll’s life was infinitely blessed and he understood and appreciated those blessings throughout his life and at the end. The stories told at hunting camp or during Friday afternoon “tea” in Maxine’s kitchen were made special by those who shared, listened and joined the debate. Friendships undoubtedly enriched Big Jim’s life and none more than those enjoyed with his brother Johnny Carroll, sister Marilyn LaHaye, cousin David Carroll, Wayne Smith, Harold Billings, Bunny Parady, Red LaHaye, Doug Gott, Colby Young, Walter Moore, Charlie Davis, Gib Dow, Merle Cousins, Bob Burns, Cinder, Hannah, Ralph, Thor, Bill, Jessie, Niall, Sami, and most of all, Maxine.
As we reflect on our Dad’s life, we will surely fail to capture all that he meant to us, but his passions have always been apparent. Jim loved sea duck hunting with cousin David, going to hunting camp at Slide Bank with the boys, Model 12 Winchesters, Carroll family reunions, Model 70 Winchesters, his dogs, chainsaws, snowmobiles, Western movies, WWII documentaries, being Airborne and not a “leg,” Waylon Jennings, hitting 40 hours and going on overtime, his grandkids, Varney GMC, C.M. Russell paintings, Louis L’amour books, Pemetic’s Gold Basketball in 1957 and then winning the New England Prep School Championship in 1958 with MCI, MDI’s Gold Ball in 2017, his children, and of course and most of all, Maxine and her cooking.
Anyone who knew Jim Carroll heard him say, more than once, that the two best decisions he ever made in life were, marrying our mother and becoming a coastal warden. We affirm that declaration and additionally contend that one of life’s greatest gifts to us was having him for our Dad.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Joan and Marilyn, in-laws George and Edna Savage and many dear aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and brother John; as well as Sami, Niall and many special nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim’s memory can be made to: Marine Patrol Benevolent Association 22 Coaling Station Lane, Lamoine, ME 04605.
A casual celebration of Jim’s life will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Kebo Valley Golf Club, 136 Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor, where light refreshments and stories can be shared.