FARMINGTON — Joseph Phillip DeRaps, age 85, passed on peacefully with family at his side at the Edgewood Living Care Center in Farmington on Saturday July 31, 2010 after a long illness.

Born Nov. 22, 1924 in Rangeley, to Joseph Bertram and Minnie Alice (Haley) DeRaps, he attended local schools. After high school, He graduated from The Quoddy School with a degree in welding. He later completed a home correspondence course to become an electrician. Phil served in the Army during WWII and was stationed in the Philippines, receiving medals of Honor during his enlistment. Nov. 22, 1947 he married Rita R Knockwood. They were married for over 50 years.

Phil and his wife, Rita, made their home in Rangeley but his work took him to many areas of the country. Utilizing his gifted welding and electrical skills, he worked with notable carnival shows Playtime Shows of Quincy Mass, King Reid Shows of Manchester, Vt. and Lakewood Amusements of Myrtle Beach, S.C. Phil was an avid golfer and cribbage player, enjoying many years of “skunking” those he could and chuckling about it for years! Phil was also an avid hunter, fisherman and enjoyed carpentry and woodworking. His crowning jewel was the home he built for he and his wife, Rita, on Haley Pond with the steadfast help of his grandson, Steve Hooke and son-in-law, Tom Hooke.

Phil is survived by his brother, Robert DeRaps of Rangeley and Edenton, N.C.; daughters, Carmen Hook of Dexter and Yulee, Fla., Yvonne Moore of Rangeley and Jacqueline Nerney of Wilton; and his son, Michael DeRaps of Carrabassett. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Nerney of Schenectady and Watervliet, N.Y., Peter Hooke of Dexter, Terry Sue Downey of East Dorset, Vt., Travis DeRaps of Strong, Margaret and Katherine Nerney of Wilton and Hudson and Seve DeRaps of Rangeley, and a son-in-law, George Moore of Rangeley. He had 15 great-grandchildren.

Phil was predeceased by his wife Rita; a son, Joseph DeRaps; his daughter, Michelle Pinkham; his grandson, Steven Hooke; and sonin law, Thomas Hooke.

Special thanks to the loving staff at Edgewood Living Center for their help and support during

this difficult time in our family.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 14, 2010, at Adams-McFarlane Funeral & Cremation Services, 108 Court Street, Farmington. Committal of ashes will take place immediately following in Lexington Cemetery. Phil will be laid to rest with his beloved Rita at that time.

Those wishing may send online condolences to the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.