Dade City, FL, and Fort Fairfield, Maine - Frederic George McGillan Sr. passed away peacefully at the Aroostook House of Comfort in Presque Isle, Maine, surrounded by his loving family on August 6, 2026, at the age of 91. He was born in Lake Edward, New Brunswick, Canada, on May 14, 1935, the son of Lemuel and Alice (Ferguson) McGillan.

Fred moved to Fort Fairfield with his family when he was 10 years old and attended schools in Fort Fairfield, enlisting in the United States Army and serving his country for two years. He married Josephine Gulliver and they raised four children together. In 1962, he started Fred McGillan Company and led the company until retiring many decades later. Fred's legacy, love for earthwork construction, and work ethic has carried on through two generations to his grandsons. He later married Gwen Thomas and played a very important role in helping raise her two children.

While residing in Fort Fairfield, Fred was a life-long communicant of the Parish of the Precious Blood, St. Denis Catholic Church, a 60-year member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1753 (50 years as a 4th Degree Knight, Fort Fairfield Assembly 0350), decades-long member and past president of the Fort Fairfield Lions Club, member of Fort Fairfield Fish and Game Club, and nearly 60 years as a member and Past District Deputy of the Elks Club No. 529 of Perth-Andover and Centreville, New Brunswick. Fred also served as a director on the board of the former Fort Fairfield Community General Hospital. Following retirement, Fred and Gwen loved their time as snowbirds, spending winters in Dade City, FL and summers at Cross Lake, Maine.

Fred's favorite things involved spending time with family and friends, especially if it involved fishing and hunting, playing 45, being out in the woods, snowmobiling, or clearing land on his grader as an earthwork construction contractor. Fred started his love of heavy equipment when he learned from his father how to operate a bulldozer at the early age of 12 as they were building the runways at Loring Air Force Base. His love of the outdoors was the foundation of how he chose to lead his life, teaching his children and grandchildren how to shoot, cast for trout, check the oil in a vehicle, or simply calling a moose when in the woods. He will be missed and remembered by his friends from the many clubs he attended for dinner meetings and card games.

Fred was always willing to graciously contribute to his church and community in numerous capacities throughout the years. Some of his projects included building the ski jump on the North Caribou Road in the 1970s for the high school ski team and building an emergency storm shelter at the Florida park where he and Gwen resided during the winters so the residents would have a safe place during a hurricane, as well as countless other endeavors that helped improve the quality of life.

In addition to his parents, Fred was predeceased by his son, Frederick "JR" McGillan Jr.; and his brother, Ralph McGillan. He is survived by his wife, Gwen; his three daughters and sons-in-law, Lori McGillan of Scarborough, ME, Deborah and Commander Jonathan Roark, USN (Ret.) of Gordon, TX, and Lisa and Stephen O'Toole of Kingston, NH; one daughter-in-law, Janet McGillan of Fort Fairfield; Gwen's children, Major Joseph Thomas, USAF (Ret.) and Kelly of Woodland Park, CO, and Bobbie-Jo and Stephen Caron of Alachua, FL; two sisters, Mary Dorsey of Westbrook, ME, and Grace (Lary) Burleigh of Decatur, GA; one brother Guy (Eileen) McGillan of Cranbury, NJ; ten grandchildren, Shane McGillan, Abigail (Benjamin) Wiese, Kellyn McGillan, Jared McGillan, Haley O'Toole and Sydney O'Toole, Tristan Thomas, Madalyn (Dylan) Berkoski, Stacia (Donald) Soloman, and Brittany-Lynn LaMothe; nine great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and dear friends.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to the nurses and staff at Cary Medical Center and the Aroostook House of Comfort for their tender loving care during Fred's last days.

Friends may call Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Parish of the Precious Blood, St. Denis Catholic Church, 147 Main St., Fort Fairfield with Fr. Thomas Xaiver SAC celebrant. Following the Mass, graveside service with military funeral honors will take place at the St. Denis Catholic Cemetery, North Caribou Road, Fort Fairfield. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held after the service at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fort Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in loving memory of Fred to the Knights of Columbus Council 1753, P.O. Box 827, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 or the Aroostook House of Comfort, P.O. Box 867, Presque Isle, ME 04769. Online condolences may be expressed at gibersondorseyfuneralhome.com.