James Earle Brackbill

P. DEAN HOMER FUNERAL HOME 206 WATER STREET PO BOX 1 DUSHORE, PA 18614 TEL 570 928-8163 FAX 570 928-8116 Email pdh@epix.net OBITUARY July 28, 2010 Dr. James (Jim) Earle Brackbill, Jr., age 77, of West Newbury, MA, died on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 while vacationing at his childhood summer home in Eagles Mere, PA with his wife of 51 years, Joan Russell Brackbill at his side. He was a graduate of Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ and received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1955. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. Dr. Brackbill received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and served as a Captain in the U.S. Army in Korea. He practiced family medicine with his brother, the late David S. Brackbill, in Georgetown, MA for 10 years before undertaking a surgical residency at the Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. He returned to practice surgery at the Hale Hospital (now Merrimack Valley Medical Center) in Haverhill, MA and the Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, MA from 1973 until the late 1990s. An adoring husband, devoted father, grandfather and beloved uncle, Jim was always an optimist known for his enjoyable sense of humor, generous spirit and vigor for life. He married the love of his life, Joan, and they were partners in everything and loved to travel and play golf together. He cared deeply for others and stayed in close touch with a far reaching circle of friends from all chapters of his life. He loved working with his son on their farm in West Newbury and always looked forward to spending time with his daughter and her family. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of building his own house when he and his family together completed the construction of a summer home on Martha's Vineyard over a period of ten years. Wherever he and Joan were became a gathering place for the children, grandchildren, family and friends that often included long evenings of laughter and story telling around the dinner table. Jim had an entrepreneurial spirit and loved to work . He shared this passion with his family and friends in many endeavors. He loved farming and started Crane Neck Christmas Tree Farm in West Newbury, which the family has been operating for over 40 years. He served on the Board of Directors of both the National Christmas Tree Association and the Massachusetts Christmas Tree Association. He was always eager to share his knowledge and just as eager to learn from others. Jim helped spawn numerous other small tree farms in Essex County. He co-founded New England Quick Lube in Whitman, MA. Very giving of his time, he worked for Habitat for Humanity in recent years during winters spent with his wife in Rio Verde, Arizona. He was the physician for the Georgetown High School football team and conducted yearly physicals for the Boy Scouts during his medical career. He served on the Planning Board in West Newbury for many years. Dr. Brackbill was born on April 24, 1933, a son of the late J. Earle Brackbill, Sr. MD and A. Elizabeth Hill Brackbill. In addition to his wife he is survived by his son James Earle Brackbill, III (Jeb) and wife Tammy of West Newbury; his daughter Ann Brackbill McKee and husband Gordon of Darien, CT; his sister, Margaret Brackbill Brass of Wyomissing, PA; four grandchildren, Liza Brackbill, Benjamin Brackbill, James McKee and Jeffrey McKee and many other dear relatives. Arrangements: A celebration of Jim's life will take place on Friday, August 13, 2010 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Newburyport, MA at 11:00 am. A reception will follow at the Groveland Fairways in Groveland, MA from 12:00 until 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity, 60 Island Street, Lawrence, MA, 01840 or a charity of one's choice. For further information visit www.homerfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Earle Brackbill, please visit our flower store.