ALBION – James Richard Bixby, 60, of Albion, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta Campus.

He was born in Lewiston, March 2, 1944, a son of Chester Colcord and Hildred Courtney (Akerley) Bixby. He was a 1962 graduate of Edward Little High School. He graduated in 1964 from Burdette College in Boston.

In the mid- 1960s, he served in the Air National Guard and was honorably discharged.

On April 20, 1968, he married the former Ann F. Foster, and together have shared 36 years.

In his early years, he assisted his father on the Cains Mayonnaise truck. He worked for Vern Parker of King Cole until he was offered a franchise in Rumford. The franchise was later bought by Bachman, for whom he became sales manager for the State of Maine. Most recently, he was employed by Pepperidge Farm, Inc., and served as area sales manager for the Augusta North Region. He was awarded Vendor of the Year in 2003 for the Maine Grocers. He also served as treasurer of the Maine Grocers Board.

He was a member of the United Baptist Church of Oakland, where he served as a Sunday High School teacher for several years, was a Deacon, narrated the Easter and Christmas cantatas at the church, and served as lay minister.

In his early years, he was a member of the Mount Zircon of the Eastern Star Chapter 142 in Rumford, and was a member of the Tranquil Masonic Lodge #29 in Auburn. He was a past member of the Order of the Demolay.

He was a volunteer fireman for the Albion Fire Department, and was the organizer of the Firemen’s Field Day Barbecue with his family. He served as past selectman for the Town of Albion, served as chairperson overseeing the poor and assessor, and served on the Elderly Housing Program in Albion.

He was currently a member of the Central Masonic Lodge #45 in China, where he had served as secretary since 1995, and also served as Past Master at the Lodge. He was also a member of the Royal Arch, Blue Chapter, the Scottish Rites of Valley of Portland and Androscoggin. He was a past member of the Albion Lions Club.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Ann Bixby, of Albion; his children, Lauri Bixby of Albion and her boyfriend, Andrew Curtis, of Auburn, Scott Bixby and his wife, April, of Canaan, and Bethany Bixby of Albion; his father, Chester Bixby of Auburn; two sisters, Lorna Hansen and her husband, Rob, of Auburn, and Carol Daniels and her husband, Bob, of Hammonton, N.J.; a brother, Chester Bixby and his wife, Sandy, of Auburn; two grandchildren, Kurtis Bixby of Albion, and Taylor Bixby of Canaan; a sister-in-law, Joyce Leonard and her husband, Ronald, of Mapleton; a brother-in-law, Bryce Rummery of Cape Elizabeth; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his mother, Hildred Bixby.

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