Joseph Arnold McPhail

Perry – Joseph A. “Skyhawk” McPhail joined his son Jack in Heaven on September 5, 2016. Dad was born on the family homestead farm in Perry on August 25, 1933. He was the fourth of five children born to Herbert and Bessie (Brown) McPhail.

Dad attended the Old Brick School House in Perry and then Shead Memorial High School in Eastport. He joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and served in the Korean War. After returning to Perry, Joe married his sweetheart, Marie Skinner on May 14, 1955 and together they raised five wonderful children.

Dad opened McPhail’s Sales and Service in 1968, selling outboards, chainsaws and snowmobiles. Along with Gates Johnson and Richard Adams, he started a little league team, The Perry Cubs which gave him great pleasure. He was a lifetime member of the Perry Volunteer Fire Department, former school board member and former selectman. While running his business he developed a love of flying. Dad was an accomplished pilot and became one of the best fish spotters on the coast of Maine. After retiring, he and Marie spent the next 30 years wintering in Florida and spending summers at home in Perry. Dad loved camping and traveling, especially on his Goldwing Trike. He was a hard worker and loved his family dearly.

In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his son, Jack in 2009 and his siblings, Carrol, Lucy and Phyliss.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marie; his sister Elizabeth Boutin; son Joseph and his wife Brenda; daughter Cynthia and her husband Buddy; sons, Richard and his companion Susan and Wayne “Mike” and his wife Robin; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at the Perry Bible Fellowship, 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 10th with a committal to follow at Leland Cemetery. Friends are invited back to the church fellowship hall following the service for a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Downeast Hospice, 11 Hospital Drive, Machias, ME 04654; Sarah’s House, 346 Main Rd., Holden, ME 04429 or Perry Bible Fellowship, 1292 U.S. Route 1, Perry, ME 04667. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.

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