James McGuiggan

James (Jim)
McGuiggan
BATH -- James (Jim) McGuiggan died peacefully in his sleep early Thursday morning at The Hill House in Bath. He made his residence there for the past year.
Jim was born in Bath, the son of John and Margaret McGuiggan. He grew up in Bath and graduated from Morse High School in the class of 1939.
He met the love of his life, Priscilla Stover, skating on Goddard's Pond, and the two went on to have five children together, Linda, James, Daniel, Gerald and Llloyd (Duke).
He began his career at the age of 16, and became an Apprentice Machinist at Hyde Windlass Co. He entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Walters, Texas, where he was PFC MP and discharged in 1946. He went on to be employed by BIW as a Maintenance/Machinist until his retirement in 1988.
Although retired, he hardly stopped working. He was a Volunteer Instructor at the Maine Maritime Museum 8th grade Boat Building program for 30 + years. He received an award for his dedication and commitment to the program, where he often made special tools and equipment for the kids. He was also known for his work helping the local fisherman by straighten propeller shafts and lending his talents wherever they were needed.
In his later years, he was most well known for his love of crafting black powder saluting cannons, a craft he went on to later teach at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklyn. The ceremonial lighting of the cannons was one of his greatest joys. He also invented a boatmaker's tool, called the McGuiggan clamp, which was featured in Wooden Boat Magazine. His talent for engineering was only exceeded by his love of family and friends.
Jim was predeceased by his wife, Priscilla Stover McGuiggan; sons, James and Gerald McGuiggan, sisters, Marion Kelley and Geraldine Madden, and brother, Edward McGuiggan. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Carter and her husband Bob of Gray, son, Daniel McGuiggan and his wife Colleen of Woolwich, son, Lloyd McGuiggan and his wife Brenda of Colton's Point, Md.; eight grandchildren, Melissa Martin, Brannon Carter, Kelli Richard, Maria McGuiggan, Ryan Gillam, John McGuiggan, Eric McGuiggan and Kerry McGuiggan; 12 great-grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Oct. 8, from 4-6 p.m., at the Desmond's Funeral Home in Bath. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath at 1 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at St. Mary's Fellowship Hall from 1:30-3:30 p.m. To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.
We will forever miss his sweet face, his kind words, his strong handshake, and unending willingness to help anyone at anytime.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Maine Maritime Museum 8th
grade Boat Building Program
would be greatly appreciated.
James (Jim) McGuiggan Name