Douglass Mabee Jr. Was A Founder of Farm Neck

Douglass Williams Mabee Jr., age 89, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., formerly of Rye, N.Y., Edgartown, Stratton Mountain, Vt., and Linville Ridge, N.C., died March 19 at Vicar's Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., after a short illness. He was born in Troy, N.Y., on Oct. 12, 1914 and grew up in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was a 1929 graduate of Fessenden, a 1933 graduate of Hotchkiss, and a 1937 graduate and rowed on the #150 Crew at Yale.

He served as lieutenant in the USNR between 1943 and 1945 aboard the DE63 USS Ira Jeffrey in the North Atlantic Convoy, later converted to APD44 to take on an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) for the invasion of Japan. He served in the Pacific Theater Operations Forces Inner Japan Sea, Wakayama. He was a Member of DECO (Destroyer Escort Commanding Officers).

Mr. Mabee was a salesman for 25 years for National Folding Box, a family company that merged with Federal Paper Board Company. He was a former vice president and director of the Adirondack Trust Company. He was governor of Apawamis Golf Club, director of YMCA and United Way in Rye, NY., a founder of Stratton Mountain ski area in Vermont, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Holland Society of New York. He was most proud of his involvement as one of three general partners in the founding of Farm Neck Association and Farm Neck Golf Club, organized to protect 600 acres from real estate development.

He was married on July 27, 1940 to the former Prudence Brattle Mather, who preceded him in death on May 9, 2001.

He was the son of the late Douglass Walter and Edna Louise (Marvin) Mabee.

He is survived by a son, Douglass Mather Mabee of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; daughters, Martha Wells Mabee of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Maria Mabee Mason of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; grandchildren Alexandra Fordyce Flowers, Jessica Francis Mabee, Douglass Timothy Mabee, Brittain Mather Mason and Adrian Allen Mason; a great-grandson, Ethan Mather Flowers, a niece, Adele (Dee) Clewley Park, and a nephew, Lewis Monroe Smith.

Memorial services will be held June 18 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Contributions may be made to Saratoga Hospital or Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Memorial services will be held in Saratoga Springs at a later date.

Craig Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.