ASHLAND--- William "Junior" O'Clair, 81, died peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, at a Presque Isle hospital, following a brief illness. He was born on Aug. 16, 1932 in Sheridan, a son of the late William and Emilda (Biler) O'Clair. Junior last worked with the JP Levesque lumber mill until his retirement in 1992. Previously he worked over 20 years with Morin & Morin Lumber and Great Northern Paper. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing. He especially enjoyed and was skilled at gardening; usually being the envy of many local gardeners. He played harmonica, fiddle, accordion, and sang for the entertainment of his family and friends late into the evening. Junior is survived by: his wife of 60 years, Christine ( Flint) O'Clair of Ashland; four daughters, Sheila Bennett of Ashland, Bonnie McNally and her husband Mike of Ashland, Debbie Clark and her husband Ed "Pooch" of Oakfield, Pat Vaillancourt of Ashland; two sons, Jim O'Clair and his wife Lori of Ashland, and Greg O'Clair and his wife Diana of Ashland; three sisters, Florence Kinney of Illinois, Nancy Conley of North Carolina, and Cathy O'Clair and her fiancé Fred Howes of Ashland; three brothers, Norman O'Clair and his wife Lydia of Ashland, Hubert O'Clair of Virginia, and Armand O'Clair and his wife Janet of Hermon; 15 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.Besides his parents, Junior is predeceased by a daughter, Judy O'Clair, four brothers, Paul, Lawrence, Dickie and Frederick O'Clair, three sisters, Marie Gillespie, Joanne Beaulier and Geneva Mary O'Clair. A funeral will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 at Union Congregational Church, Ashland. Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family Friday, Dec. 20, 2013 from 6 - 8 PM and Saturday, 11 AM until time of service at the Union Congregation Church, Ashland. Arrangements are entrusted to Lajoie Funeral Home-Ashland, 114 Exchange St., Ashland, ME 04732. In lieu of flowers, donations in Junior's name may be made to: TAMC Aroostook Cancer Care, c/o TAMC Foundation, PO Box 151, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
