Raymond Earl Shibley

FAIRFIELD -- Raymond Earl Shibley, age 99, of Fairfield passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at 9 a.m. at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer Campus, with family and friends by his side.

Raymond Earl Shibley was born in Fairfield on Sept. 18, 1911. He was the son of William and Sadie (Slayman) Shibley. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1929 and from Colby College in 1935. He proudly served in the Army Air Corps, where he was inducted Aug. 3, 1942, until he received an honorable discharge in October 1945. He flew on many missions as a bombardier, including many he volunteered for. He manned the power turret and was the gun sight mechanic on the infamous B-26 Marauder Eagle.

Raymond Earl Shibley was an entrepreneur. He owned and operated an oil and gas distributorship for many years, which he and his wife, Elthea, proudly built up into a prosperous business. After many years of hard work, he retired at the age of 50, and he and his wife, Elthea, did a lot of traveling. Their favorite destination was Hawaii.

Raymond and Elthea were very civic-minded. They sponsored Shibley's PAL football team, carrying the tradition for 30 years. Raymond, in his later years, loved to be around friends and family and was always very generous to them. He loved to socialize, and he loved to ride on his lawn mower, always keeping his lawn looking the best in the neighborhood. Raymond was predeceased by his parents, William and Sadie Shibley; his wife, Elthea, who passed away April 7, 1988; and 14 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his niece, Sadie Kanaris, and husband Richard of Augusta; nephews William Shibley of Waterville, Robert Glidden of Madison, Gene Babcock of East Benton, Robert Shibley of Madison, and William Nassif and wife Laura of California; great-niece Tina Kanaris of Florida; great-nephews, Thomas Kanaris and wife Terri of Augusta, Christopher Shibley of Fairfield, and James Shibley of Texas; great-great-nephews Gerrett, Nicholas and Mathew of Texas; and his longtime friend and caretaker, Debra Doody, of Fairfield. He is also survived by his beloved cat, Lucky Peanuthead Shibley.

The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors, nurses, certified nurse's aids and office staff at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer Unit 3 North, for their professional and emotional support. They would also like to thank the staff at HealthReach and HealthReach Hospice.

Visiting hours will be on Friday, May 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. with a funeral service to begin at 3 p.m. at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. Burial with military honors will occur at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, at the old Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta.

Condolences may be expressed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 107 Main St., Fairfield 453-6049.