SPRING HILL, FLA. – Clyde I. Barrows, 87, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Farmington, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 30, at his residence.

He was born in Oakfield, the son of Clarence and Fern Barrows. After the death of his parents as a young boy, he made his home with the Charles Steele family. He was forever grateful to them for raising him. He was educated in the Farmington School system and went on to graduate from the Farmington Normal School, now the University of Maine at Farmington, in 1937.

In June 1940, he married Marion Austin of Farmington. They were the first to be married in the Henderson Memorial Baptist Church. Together they raised four children, until her death in 1961 from multiple sclerosis, the disease which he dedicated his life to by founding the Maine chapter of The Multiple Sclerosis Society, in 1954. He served as chairman emeritus and was a member of the National Board of The Multiple Sclerosis Society. In June of last year, he was the honored guest at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Maine Chapter which 400 people attended. It meant a great deal to him to be able to attend this event.

He was an active businessman in Farmington for over 50 years. During this period he owned and operated several businesses including The Farmington Laundry, C.W. Steele Fuel Co., Maine Bottled Gas Co., Maine Dowel Mill, Moon Glo Motel (now the Mt. Blue Motel), The Franklin Realty and Appraisal Co., and was the builder and owner of the Barrows Block, on Main Street in Farmington. During his later years he taught real estate at The University of Maine at Farmington summer school.

He was also a very active community volunteer in Farmington, as a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, member of the Chamber of Commerce, member and past president of the Farmington School Board and past president of the Farmington Rotary. He was a member and past deacon of the Henderson Memorial Baptist Church in Farmington and a member of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Spring Hill.

In 1983, he retired to Florida with his wife of 33 years, Edna, and together they enjoyed traveling. Each summer they would return to their beloved Cape Cod summer home they remodeled themselves, in New Sharon. There they enjoyed entertaining their friends and especially their children and grandchildren. He was a great conversationalist and enjoyed hearing all about the lives of his children, grandchildren, and their friends. In Spring Hill he was an avid swimmer, and enjoyed swimming at the YMCA nearly every day.

He is survived by his sister, Erma Calef Head of Norfolk, Va.; one son, Thomas and his wife, Joyce, of Venice, Fla.; three daughters, Carolyn and her husband, Richard Pratt, of Sarasota, Fla., Barbara and her husband, Donald Martin, of Scarborough, and Nancy and her husband, Kelly Kading, of Dallas, Texas; and a stepdaughter, Brenda Richards of Farmington; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Two wives, Marion and Edna; and two brothers, Vinal and Vincent predeceased him.

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