George Clifton Eames

BANGOR - G. Clifton Eames died peacefully on March 13, 2025, at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. He was born in Bangor, Maine, April 14, 1927, the son of Donald J. and Frances (Bragg) Eames.

A lifelong resident of Bangor, he graduated from Bangor High School in 1945 and served in the U.S. Navy before entering the University of Maine from which he graduated in 1950 with a degree in business administration. He was associated with his family's business, N. H. Bragg & Sons of Bangor, for 42 years, retiring in 1992. For the last 11 of those years, he served as its president, as a member of the fifth generation of his family to do so.

In addition to his participation in several associations related to his business, Clif was also active in many civic and business organizations and charitable agencies and institutions in the community. He held leadership positions in a number of them. He was President of the Bangor Jaycees, Chairman of the Bangor Planning Board, President of the Lucerne-in-Maine Village Corporation, President of The Counseling Center (now Community Health & Counseling Services), Chairman of the Pine Tree Chapter of American Red Cross, Campaign Chairman and later Chairman of the Board of the United Way, and Chairman of the Board of Eastern Maine Medical Center and of Eastern Maine Healthcare and a founding director of Eastern Maine Healthcare System. He was a member of the original Steering Committee of the Bangor Region Leadership Institute and was the first lay member of the Maine Bar Association Grievance Committee and later a member of the Grievance Commission of the Board of Overseers of the Bar. He was a Director and Past President of Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Acadia Hospital, the Boards of Directors of the Bangor YMCA, The Home for Aged Men, and Phillips-Strickland House. He was a past president of City Club and of the Rotary Club of Bangor. He was a President of the Sunbury Foundation. He was a Trustee of the Good Samaritan Agency. In addition to his leadership roles with these organizations, Clif led and provided extensive guidance for many capital campaigns and fund-raising efforts over the years.

In the area business community, Clif had been Chairman of the Board of Bangor Savings Bank, a Director of Bangor Hydro Electric Co., President of BanAir Corporation, and Director and President of the Action Committee of 50 and a Director of Target Area Development Corp.

He was honored by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce with the Norbert X. Dowd Achievement Award in 1993 and by the Katahdin Area Council of Boy Scouts with the Distinguished Citizen Award in 1999, and by Eastern Maine Medical Center with the Distinguished Service Award,. He also held an honorary degree from Husson College (now Husson University).

He was a lifelong member of All Souls Congregational Church where he served terms as Moderator, Trustee, Deacon, and Treasurer, and he was a member of the choir there for more than 70 years. He further expressed his interest in singing as a founding member of "The Landlords," a local male choral group, which he was associated with for over 65 years.

Clif is survived by his wife Kay (Furrow) Byther Eames, with whom he shared a love of music and common values. He is also survived by his daughter Katherine, of Brewer, son Jonathan, and his wife, Lisa Marchese Eames, of Cumberland Center, grandson Benjamin Eames, and step-grandsons Benjamin and Gabriel Marchese, all of the Portland area, stepdaughter, Yvonne Byther Mumme and husband Mark of Portland, and sister, Eleanor Silsby of Manchester, Maine, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and their children. He was also predeceased by his sister Grace Hinrichs, his creative and beloved brother-in-law, David S. Silsby and his first wife, Barbara Ann Knowles. Clif and Barbara were married on June 23, 1951. They built a camp on Beaver Island at Phillips Lake where Clif spent over 73 happy summers enjoying campfires with family and friends, including his 97th summer.

He was predeceased by Barbara on August 16, 1998.

Clif's caring and sense of responsibility to his family, friends, and community was endless and deep. He always wanted to do the right thing and wanted to be a burden to no one. He touched the lives of so many and with the help of many others made the Bangor community a better place.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Northern Light (EMMC), Palliative Care, and Home Care and Hospice, Clergy and special friend, Dr Peter VerLee for their gracious care and support during his last days.

Visiting Hours will be held at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St in Bangor, on Friday, March 21, from 4:00-7:00 PM and a Memorial Service will be held at All Souls Congregational Church on Saturday, March 22, at 2:00 PM, with a reception following directly after.

Memorial gifts may be made to All Souls Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, or Bangor Region YMCA, 17 Second Street, Bangor, or to any of the other non-profits with which Clif was associated.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.