John S. Cobb Jr.

GRAY – John S. Cobb Jr. passed away at home on August 6, 2022 at the age of 91. His mind remained sharp but his body was weakened by multiple medical problems. He was lovingly cared for by his family, Hospice of Southern Maine and family friend, Amy Sturgis.

John was born in Portland on Sept. 15, 1930 to Beatrice and John Cobb Sr. He spent his childhood years at the family farm on Cambell Shore Road in Gray. After high school graduation from Pennell Institute he served Active Duty with the U.S. Army in the Korean conflict. He told stories about driving large tanks of water to the troops on the front lines. After the Army he went to work at Thomas Laughlin Company in Portland (later became American Hoist and Derrick Co). John worked there until the plant closed. After that he spent 22 years working as a machinist at Bath Iron Works. He retired from BIW at 74 years old.

At the age of 18 he built the family cottage on Little Sebago Lake. It became a gathering place for family picnics and is still popular to this day! John “Johnny” was sometimes called the camp doctor. For many years he maintained family camps as well as being the caretaker for Crow Island. If he needed a part he could not fix or buy, he went to his home workshop and made it. He was a real machinist!

In his younger years, John was an avid motorcyclist and rode his Harley Davidson with his brother, cousins and friends. John found the love of his life at a barn dance in Gray in 1954. This ended his motorcycle career. He married his wife Ann in 1957 and they recently celebrated 65 years of marriage. John and Ann raised their three sons (John, Tim and Dan) in Gray.

He loved spending time with his children, building model airplanes, rockets, working with Little League baseball, science projects, lots of winning Pinewood Derby cars and even overhauling car engines.

He had a tradition of making homemade ice cream for birthdays and continued for several years after the grandchildren arrived. John and Ann loved going to their children’s and grandchildren’s school and sports activities.

John had a creative side too. He enjoyed making musical instruments and made a violin and several banjos. At the age of 90 he taught himself how to cane chairs. He caned three, each one better than the last. Now each son has a keepsake of his creativity, love and persistence.

John was happiest working on his tractor in the blueberry fields, cutting and gathering firewood and many other landscaping projects. He spent many hours riding and doing work with his tractors.

The Lucky Seven hunting camp in Eustis was a big part of his life. Along with his dad, brother and cousins this was a favorite place to enjoy nature in all seasons for all reasons. With his passing, the Lucky 7 (John Cobb Sr., Bill Greenstreet, Carlton Skilling, Ken Skilling, John Cobb Jr., Hubert Cobb and Bobby Skilling) are once again all together.

John enjoyed keeping bees, feeding birds, battling squirrels and training his beagle, Snoopy, to chase rabbits. He was a fan of Elvis Presley and the Boston Red Sox. He was a member of the Kora Temple Shriners, Masons, American Legion Post 86. He was also a Mayflower descendant.

John was predeceased by his brother Hubert and sister-in-law Carol.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; his children John M. Cobb (wife Yun-Son), Timothy W. Cobb (wife Deborah), and Daniel P. Cobb (wife Kimberly); as well as grandchildren Alex, Nicole, Amelia and Ben, step-grandchildren Claire Jackson and Andrew Masalin and three step-great-grandchildren.

The Cobb family would like to thank the caregivers at Seaside and The Cedars for the loving care and respect they showed John. Thank you to Amy and the Hospice of Southern Maine staff who came to our home. You are all true angels!

There will be a graveside service at the Gray Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Friday August 12. The service will be followed by a reception at the Inn at Fogg Farm (65 Lewiston Rd., Gray) from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Condolences may be expressed at http://www.wilsonfhllc.com.

Please consider donations in memory of John S. Cobb Jr. to Gray Fire and Rescue or the Gray Public Library.

John S. Cobb Jr.