SEARSMONT — Basil Albert Pearse Jr, 78, of Searsmont, passed away peacefully at home on August 5, 2024, surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born in Camden, Maine on November 3, 1945, to Basil and Jennie (Morse) Pearse Sr.

He went to school just a hop skip and a jump from his house. He would love telling his kids that he walked to school in the snow, little did they know at the time it was only next door. He continued on to graduate from Crosby High School in 1964. Growing up he would help on the family dairy farm and help his father at the family lumber mill (Pearse mill), then eventually took over the mill with his brother. They cut and plained a lot of wood for Viking Lumber until the fire in 1988. Even though Viking bought a new plainer they eventually sold the sawmill to people in Nova Scotia in 1989. He then took a job with Robbins Lumber Mill driving a forklift until his diagnosis of Parkinson's in 2006.

On May 29, 1971, he married his wife, Arlinda. They raised three daughters in the farmhouse in Searsmont until 1988 when they built their log cabin across the street. They celebrated 53 happy years with many great memories. With him always dancing at any events and if my mom wouldn’t dance he would find someone who would, in turn, get the name of the Dancing Bear.

He joined the fire department when he was 16 and continued it throughout his adult life where he held the fire chief role for 25 plus years, the fire warden for many years, and driving the rescue unit. With the help of his brother, he plowed and sanded the roads for the town for many years. Spending many long hours no matter how tired he was to make sure the roads for safe for everyone. Even during the ice storm of 1998 chopping down or pulling trees out of the way or even going down the Appleton Ridge sideways.

His love for his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandkids, was endless always picking on them and them picking on him. So much laughter and joking every day. But his love for his dogs was much more. With him seeing and talking about his dog King for the last few days.

He loved being in the woods either cutting down trees for firewood or going hunting. The last few years when asked where his deer was, he would say still out in the woods. I was just taking the gun for a walk. Little did we know he was taking a nap. He loved bowling and spending time down at Sennebec campground at the dances. Love participating in the woodsman’s day in Searsmont he was one of the toughest and strongest men there and one of the top winners in town. 

Basil was predeceased by his father, Basil Pearse Sr.; mother, Jennie Pearse Clark; brother, Paul Pearse; father-in-law, Kenneth Sherman; sister-in-law, Kathy Flanders; niece McKenzie Haver, and his fellow companions Bear and King.

He is survived by his loving wife, Arlinda; children, Diane (Rich) Haskell from Mariaville, Maine, Lori (Chris) Anderson from Searsmont, Maine, Rebecca (Cecil) Bryar JR from Fairfield, Maine; grandchildren, Morgan Littlefield and partner Cody, Cody Haskell, Alyssa Flagg and partner Ryan, Dakota (Trey) Martin, Mckayla and Kenneth Bryar, Brandi (Micheal) McGuire, Crystal and Helen Anderson, Tiffany Howie; great grandkids Chris, Bryce, Kelvin, Carmyn, Skylar, Scarlett, Landon, Trinity, Emily, and Anderson; special extended family Richard Littlefield, Forrest Flagg, Megan Moore, Laurel Kragh, and Dusty.

A special thanks goes out to Gentiva Hospice and the team that helped care for Basil. A very special thanks to Alyssa, Dakota, and Shany, we wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.

A celebration of life will be held September 28, 2024, from 1 - 4 p.m., at Searsmont Fire Department. All donations to Searsmont Fire Department.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com