Eileen (Baker) Rickard Fairburn, 87, a long time resident of Mercer, Maine, passed away after a long battle with Dementia on Tuesday July 17, 2012 in Mercer, Maine. Eileen, born February 6, 1925 in Philadelphia, PA, to Frank Baker and Mabel (Mehaffy) Baker and her family lived in Peapack, Far Hills, and Bernardsville, N.J. She graduated from Bernards High School in 1942. Eileen and her first husband, Earl S. Rickard lived in Bernardsville, NJ, he predeceased her in 1988. She married her second husband Robert Gordon Fairburn in August of 1972. Robert and Eileen lived in Waterville, ME, and Carmel, CA, until Robert passed away in 1992, she returned to Maine for the remainder of her life. Eileen worked at Prudential Insurance, Allied Chemical and Keyes Fiber. Eileen had many hobbies which included reading, crosswords, gardening, and served on the boards of the YMCA, Home for Little Wanderers and volunteered at the Monterey Thrift Shop in CA. She is survived by her children; Steve Rickard and his wife Barbara of Basking Ridge, NJ, Sherri LiCata of Basking Ridge, NJ, Stacy Bedford and her husband Ray of Mercer, ME, her grandchildren; Eric Bedford of Naples, ME, Carly Bedford and her fiancé Dan Cullen of Salem, MA, Jessica (Bedford) Marshall and her husband Jesse of Mercer, ME, Brittany Rickard of Basking Ridge, NJ, Ainsley LiCata of Basking Ridge, NJ, her great-grandson Trey Marshall of Mercer, ME, her sister Joan Waddell of Far Hills, NJ, and several nieces and nephews. As well as her long time family friend Debra Lumia who moved here from New Jersey to take care of Eileen. Eileen was predeceased by her parents, her husbands, and her stepson Rob. The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Health Reach Hospice of Skowhegan, also the Redington Memorial Home in Skowhegan for their wonderful care and to Debra for her unending care and love of Eileen during her illness. A celebration of Eileen’s life will be announced in the future. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. Donations may be made in Eileen’s memory to Health Reach Hospice, Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, Maine 04901 or to the Redington Memorial Home, Activities Dept., 11 North Ave., Skowhegan, Maine 04976.