Jackie Moorehead Jr. Obituary (1978

Jackie Emmitt Moorehead Jr., age 39, passed away on August 5, 2017, surrounded by family and close friends at Redington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan, Maine. Jackie was born on June 20, 1978 to Cecilia and Jackie E. Moorehead in Skowhegan. He has been with his chosen family for the past thirty two years, he was loved by his “Parents”, Derek and Rose Adams and brothers Tyler and Christian Adams of Shawmut. If you met Jackie you would remember his big personality and character, “With a wink and a smile, he touched many lives”. He was a proud brother and uncle who could be found giving his brothers or nieces rides on his chair or in his lap. Never has someone lived such a full life in such a short time. Jackie graduated from Waterville High School, he later returned to volunteer at the Tech Center and assist the Nursing Program instructor, Tracy Cloutier, with the Nursing Program. Jackie loved to teach. He lived to challenge the stigmas surrounding disabilities. With the help of his job coach, Jen Bouchard, there was next to nothing that Jackie could not do. In the many jobs that he held such as volunteering at the Muskie Center in Waterville, AquaCoral Reef Aquarium in Fairfield, The Fairfield Food Pantry, and Oakland Redemption, there aren’t many people who met him and did not take something away from it. Special friends such as Scott, Amy, Penny, Nancy and Paul, just to name a few, at these various jobs made his experiences extra special. Jackie never let his disability prevent him from doing anything. His wheelchair was less of an anchor than it was his sail. He travelled across the country to sports games and communication conventions, shattering barriers and touching the hearts of countless people. Jackie had an incredible ability to create family wherever he went. At his residence, Klearview Manor, people were drawn to him. Jackie had everyone there wrapped around his finger and they would not hesitate to jump to his every will. It took just his “boo-boo” face to get staff to run and get him a Reese’s cup or a mug of coffee. Jackie was a member of “SPRED”, a symbolic religious development for individuals with disabilities, and made lifelong connections with every person there. With the help of Barbara Pouliot, Jackie received his sacraments in April of 2000 and deepened his faith. As a devout Catholic, Jackie always wanted to attend church. Saturday was a day to “sleep in”, but Sunday was for church and home with family. He volunteered at Mt. St. Joseph and visited with the residents, keeping them company and attending church with them. Jackie was passionate about many things. He was an avid sports fan, he maintained a garden at Klearview Manor, he loved his Augusta Chapter Harley Motorcycle riders, enjoyed bowling, playing the slots and loved extreme weather. Jackie is survived by family Derek and Rose Adams, brothers Tyler and Christian Adams, and grandparents Janet Daigle and Karl and Myrla Rolfe; uncles and aunts, Joel and Laurie Violette, Ernie and Holly Poirier, Ricky Strickland, Kim and Peter Willette, Verne and Irene Daigle, Lisa and John Jardin, Colleen and Matthew Walker, Valerie and Michael Vigue and Lisa and Gil Rosebrook; cousins Kelsey Poirier, Dylan Daigle, Deidre and Christopher Fisher and their children, Gwenevere and Jocelyn, Desiree and Michael Liscomb and their children Grant and Mackenzie, Julia and Riley Walker, Marcia Nelson, Colby and Garrett Willette, Evan, Kayla and Cierra Vigue, Shannon Salvaggio, all loved Jackie. He also leaves behind his “Klearview Family” of employees and their families, housemates and their families and many other special friends. The family would like to thank all of the medical staff at Redington Fairview General Hospital, especially the doctors and SCU nurses who participated in Jackie’s care. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, August 11 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Veilleux Funeral Home located at 8 Elm Street in Waterville. A Catholic funeral will be held at Notre Dame Catholic Church on Silver Street, Waterville on Saturday August 12 at 11:00 AM, with a reception to follow at CMCS, 14 Wandrup Drive, on the Goodwill Hinckley Campus in Fairfield. Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with Jackie’s friends and family.