Basil Dunphy Obituary (1937 - 2018)

HIGHLAND PLANTATION - Basil (Pat) Dunphy passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2018, after a ten-year long struggle with dementia. Pat was born on September 15, 1937, to Alvah J. and Gertrude L. Dunphy. He grew up and grew old at his family home after the many brothers and sisters deeded it to him. He was the youngest, and the one who would take care of their mother until she passed. Dad started taking care of others early on. Early in Pat’s life, he went to school at the one room schoolhouse in Highland. His nephew and best friend, Ike, started school a year early so there would be two people in his class. Pat went on to attend Central High School where he played baseball, the sport he loved. Remarkably for his condition, one of the last things Dad asked before he left us was, “Am I a good man?” It was his life’s pleasure to be a ‘good man’. Pat Dunphy was always there for whoever needed him. “Never fear, Grampa’s here” was a phrase he loved to say as he came to the rescue any time, day or night. He was also just as generous with a stranger as his own family. “No need to pay for the gas to get you back going; just help someone else along the way.” You never had to wonder about how proud he was of his family, he would make sure you knew within the first five minutes. Whether you wanted to hear it or not, he would brag about how incredibly special his wife Jo of fifty-six years was and how she moved all the way from California to marry a farmer. The sun rose and set on “his sweet little wife Joannie.” And his children! He beamed telling of Darcy’s and Glenn’s accomplishments. Then along came the “Grandbabies” Deven and Sidne, just feeding his pride. He spent many hours teaching his kids and grandkids how to be hardworking, honest, to respect themselves and others, and to grow up and be somebody. Pat worked at whatever job would pay to put food on that table: everything from pushing the saw at Pinkham’s Mill to running an excavator and other heavy equipment all over the state. He would hand load four-foot birch boltwood like it was toothpicks. Another great passion for Pat was living in Highland. “Can you imagine? I’m so lucky to sleep in the very room I was born in.” “Up here, you can breathe air that’s never been breathed.” He loved working his land, cutting wood, hauling it out on his self-made trailers and sleds, tapping trees and making his own Maple Syrup to share with family and friends. Having a family garden like he grew up with was another special thing to Pat. Grampa and the grandkids would race to see what their prize vegetables won at the New Portland Fair. Pat never wasted a minute of his long life: always on the move with something to accomplish. Pat and Jo loved snowmobiling and being involved in snowmobile clubs. They rode every spare minute they had and dedicated many hours to fundraising, trail maintenance, and safety education. Pat and Jo enjoyed hosting an annual chili and chowder feed at Glenn’s cabin in the White and Butler that drew a standing room only crowd. Most of all, Dad loved to laugh. He had endless silly stories, jokes and sometimes material that was for sure “not for mixed company.” We find ourselves quoting Dad’s phrases just about every day. He taught us so many things and leaves us feeling only the greatest love and admiration that could be imagined. He wasn’t just a good man, he was a GREAT man, and the best husband, father, grandfather and friend that anyone could ask for. A private remembrance for the family will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.