CAMDEN — Arthur Crockett, Jr., a lifelong Camden resident, member of the town's fire department, and caretaker of municipal buildings was honored Saturday morning, May 9, at his memorial service held at the Camden Opera House, the very building he meticulously maintained for decades. Later that same afternoon, lifelong Camden resident David Dickey was likewise honored at a gathering under a tent at Tannery Lane, the magical place where he lovingly tended his gardens, as well as the flower boxes that line the nearby footbridge spanning the Megunticook River.

Both men loved their hometown, and those who assembled to say goodbye equally loved the two men. Arthur Crockett, Jr., died March 11, 2026 and David Dickey died January 13, 2026.

And as Camden can often surprise in unforeseen ways, a dramatic house fire punctuated the day, with firefighters from Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport scrambling to battle the smoke and flames at a Park Street garage and home. Most of the firefighters themselves were old friends with Crockett and Dickey, and no doubt the two would have appreciated the swift action of their friends who rushed to save the home.

Arthur's service began at 10 a.m., at the Camden Opera House. Lining the staircase were his friends of the Camden Fire Department, solemnly marking their respect. Arthur had been a 30-year member of the fire department (starting in 1979), and had been a driver for Camden First Aid, the community's former ambulance service. He loved participating in the local parades in his classic cars and trucks, his obituary read.

"I met Arthur when I started working here 21 years ago," said Camden Opera House Manager Dave Morrison, just before the May 9 Celebration of Life was to begin. 

"He took care of the building and the people in it with an attention to detail I have never seen before or since," said Morrison. "He came in on his days off. He went to yard sales to find cleaning tools. He loved to work, and he loved this building and the people in it. He was the unseen force in that, whenever people came to a show of any kind and the building looked great, it was because of him. No one necessarily saw him doing this, but he was dedicated and so thorough, like no one I'd ever seen."

Arthur loved the Opera House simply as a beautiful theater that people enjoy.

"I think he wanted it to be the best it could be," said Morrison.

"This building has never been as clean or as sparkling as when Arthur took care of it," said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley. "And then he would come and do the same thing in the fire station."

Former Camden Fire Chief Bob Oxton spoke during the service, noting that at fire calls, Arthur was typically the first to show up and the last to leave.

He was born July 21, 1945 in Camden, and he worked at the Knox Woolen Mill, Camden Tannery, Best Felts, for the Town of Camden, and at Camden First Aid. He was also known for his many years of working on Volkswagen repair and as a delivery driver.

He attended school in the Camden-Rockport district but had not obtained his diploma; however, in 1987 he and his son, Donald, achieved a shared milestone when they returned to earn their GEDs together.

And, he loved his trucks and traveling.

Arthur's blue 1968 Chevy pickup, with its fog lights and running board, stood sentry outside the Opera House Saturday morning, before the burial service at Seaview Cemetery in Rockport. The Camden Fire Department escorted Arthur with a last ride in Engine 5 to his final resting place, said his daughter-in-law, Kim Crockett. There, a bagpiper accompanied him with Amazing Grace as he was laid to rest.

If one heard Elvis Presley crooning from the Opera House Saturday morning, know that the music was in honor of Arthur Y. Crockett, Jr., a beloved local resident, who is remembered for his strong work ethic, commitment to his community, and dedication to his family. 

David Dickey Memorial Gathering (DaveFest)

Later in the day music continued to play, this time at Tannery Lane, where two members from the local band Creatures of Habit (Rick Johnson and Elwood Doran) brought David Dickey's favorite tunes of the 1960s and 70s to life with their guitars — "Lord I was born a rambling man...." There, under a tent next to the Riverhouse Hotel, friends and family gathered to pay tribute to a life of an entrepreneur, avid skier, talented gardener, local historian, and raconteur of the highest order.

And there, too, was David's favorite vehicle, a Volkswagen bus.

The celebration of life drew many from the Midcoast, and as one described the gathering, it was, "like a high school reunion", full of hugs and stories collected and shared over the decades.

"David A. Dickey, 71, of Camden, checked out of this world the way he lived in it, on his own terms, with a healthy dose of stubbornness, and leaving behind plenty of opinions for the rest of us to sort out," his obituary read. 

He was born April 20, 1954, in Camden, and his birthday — 4/20 — was of special delight to him, for reasons those coming of age in the late 1960s and 70s remember well.

He loved the Camden Snow Bowl, its trails and toboggan chute, and community focus. His historical treasures abound (he kept the first ski patrol pack that the Snow Bowl ever owned) and his private history collection is robust. His stories were always insightful and if you talked with David for more than 10 minutes, you learned a lot about the town, its history, eccentricities and people (some stories are better off not in print).

David was born at the old Camden Community Hospital, the second of four children born to Kenneth and Prudence Dickey. He spent many years working at the family store, Haskell and Corthell, on Main Street in downtown Camden. He took pride in his work and in his family’s legacy, especially the Ski Barn, his family wrote in his obituary. 

David built the Riverhouse Hotel on Tannery Lane in 1995, and began cultivatring flowers and vines in a magical garden that overtook the tarmac parking lot. He put solar panels on the roof of the hotel early on when solar panels were just getting popular. He welcomed guests from across the globe, from New York City to the South Pacific, and the odd ones with their own unique stories. In February, the hotel became the go-to place for competitors in the toboggan races at the Snow Bowl.

His imagination came to life in his gardens and the footbridge that he kept open for the community, albeit with a warning that naughty children could be turned over to the trolls who lived beneath it.

"His love and passionate commitment for his community was deep, fierce, and occasionally unorthodox," his obituary said. "He took great joy in acting as an unofficial town historian. Whether people agreed or not, they heard him. Repeatedly. What many didn’t see, were the quiet compassionate ways he helped people. David was always willing to lend a hand, make a call, or show up when something was needed."

At the May 9 gathering, David's grandson Ben Tolman and his good friend (and Ben's grandfather) Eric Tolman both played their accordions, honoring David with music, as did Bennett Bricker and Rodney Sturdee. Friends commented on Facebook: "It was the birthday party that Dave wanted to have before being shut down by Covid. He would have enjoyed it! Putting the fun in funeral."

"David wasn’t perfect, but he was perfectly himself," his obituary said. "And Camden is undeniably more interesting because he lived here. His absence has left the town noticeably quieter and significantly less opinionated. David loved his community and was committed to preserving the quality of life, as we’ve known in the past."

Both Arthur Crockett, Jr., and David Dickey were sent off in style, as Camden often does with the folks the town has loved. Their marks are indelible and long-lasting, and they are missed. 

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657