NORWAY — Neil L. Dow, 82, of Norway passed away at Stephens Memorial Hospital on Saturday, July 31, with his family by his side.

Neil was born on Aug. 4, 1927, at Lisbon Falls to Verna B. Harding and Robert B. Dow Sr. His parents moved to Norway in 1928, and he attended local schools, graduating from Norway High School in 1944. He entered the U. S. Navy on Aug. 9, 1944, and served actively until July 1946, after which he served as a naval reservist until 1953. While in active service he was assigned to the U.S.S. Ray Kay Edwards, a destroyer escort. He served in the Pacific Theater during the crucial stages of World War II, attaining the rank of Petty Officer, 3rd Class. When he left the service, he entered the University of Maine in 1946, graduating with a degree in history and government in 1950. He subsequently attended Boston University Law School, graduating in the top third of his class of 1952.

After graduation in 1952, he and his brother Bob Jr. joined Dow’s Law Office, their father’s firm in Norway. He later left the office practice for two years to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maine in Augusta. He resigned in 1957, to return to private practice. He was then appointed by Governor Muskie to be judge of the Norway Municipal Court. He served in that capacity for three years until the court became a regionalized district court. After he left the court in 1960, he was a lobbyist in Augusta for six years, after which he and his brother, Bob DowJr., were engaged in private practice in Norway until his retirement in 1994.

He married Marion Brown on Aug. 27, 1949, and they had four children, Deborah, Melinda, Joanna and David. They were divorced in 1980. He was later married to Phyllis Jennings and they were divorced in 1995. In 1999, he became reacquainted with his childhood friend, Edna Frisbie. Edna became a “ray of sun” in his life and their relationship lasted until his death.

Neil was a member of many local civic organizations. He served on the initial board of directors for the newly formed School Administrative District 17 (Oxford Hills). He was a director of Oxford Bank and Trust and a Mason, belonging to Oxford Lodge 18 A.F. & A.M., for 57 years. Following his retirement, he became an active member of the Weary Club in Norway, most recently serving as president. He was also a member of what he called the “Melting Pot,” a group which regularly met in the morning at the Lake Store in Norway to discuss the important topics of the day.

Neil loved the outdoors and owned several area camps with his brother, Bob and good friends, George Gatchell, Brad Raymond, Don Mills, Dick Wyman and Doc Wyman. This group became known locally as the “Patch Mountain Boys,” and they spent many years together fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and socializing. He also loved camping and spent many happy times camping with his family and friends at Hermit Island, in Bar Harbor and on Cape Cod. During his lifetime he traveled to many parts of the world, including all of the states except for Alaska. He went to many of these trips with his good friends, Herbert Andrews and Kenneth Kilgore.

Neil is survived by daughters, Deborah Harlow and her husband, Bruce, of Sebago, Melinda Butler and her husband, Stephen, of Humble, Texas, Joanna Dow and her partner, Ronald Raymond, of Otisfield; and son, David Dow and his wife, Catherine, of Paris; grandchildren, Sarah Benn and her husband, Shawn, of Westbrook, Katie Butler of Humble, Texas, Tracey Raymond of Otisfield, Molly Dow of Portland and Laura Dow of Paris; great-grandchildren, Lily Benn, Isaac Benn and Elijah Benn, of Westbrook; his sister, Betty Schmidlin of Machias; his brother, Bruce Dow of Ridge Manor, Fla.; his sister-in-law, Barbara Dow of Norway; and many special nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his beloved brother, Robert B. Dow Jr.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.westonchandler.com.