Lillian Babb Chick

Lillian was born to Raymond Saunders Babb and Mabel Elizabeth O’Neal Babb on July 18, 1934, in East Saugus, Massachusetts. The youngest of seven children, her family moved to Strafford, New Hampshire in 1940 to take care of an uncle, and later bought his property for a dollar.
She was educated in a one-room schoolhouse in Strafford until the 6th grade. Then she attended Austin-Cate Academy in Center Strafford through eighth grade and continued her education at Dover High School. Part of her high school education included obtaining her cosmetology license, and hairdressing became her first career.
Lillian lived on the 15-acre farm in Strafford with her family until her marriage to Robert Ray Chick, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on October 23, 1954. They lived on Charles Street and Pine Street in Rochester, until the purchase of their lifelong home in 1958. There they welcomed their two boys, Robert Jr. in 1961 and Donald in 1963.
She held multiple jobs over the course of her life. She operated Chick’s Beauty Salon in several rented locations, and then in her house for 28 years. In addition, she and her husband ran Chick’s Carpet Cleaning for about 30 years. During that time, she was also a salesperson for Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, and Petra Fashions. Her last 22 years were spent helping her son Robert Jr. with his embroidery business by taking orders, inspecting the finished work, and making sure that every item was perfect before it left the shop.
One of her favorite family activities was going with her husband and son Robert to skeet, trap, and turkey shoots, throughout New England, New York, Ohio, and Nova Scotia. Her many mementos and trophies remind her family of her accomplishments. Her trap titles include NH State Lady, Class A, Husband and Wife, and Parent and Child. From 1970 to her last registered shoot in 2008, she shot 30,775 registered single targets. Her lifetime overall singles average was 92.17%, a mere 1.46 points behind her husband.
During her last few years, she was surrounded by her sons, grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She experienced no greater joy than spending time with her great-grandchildren, Anton and Lilly, lighting up every time she saw their faces. Not only was she able to meet and get to know them, but her great-granddaughter was named Lillian in her honor and was born the day before her birthday. They were 89 years apart.
She is survived by her sons, Robert Jr. and Donald Chick; four grandchildren, Donald Chick Jr., Emilye Krasny, Abigaile Chick, and David Chick; two great-grandchildren, Anton and Lillian Krasny; her husband’s dog Suzie, and her son’s cat Squirt.
She was predeceased by her parents Raymond and Mabel Babb, her husband of 67 years, Robert Chick Sr., and her siblings Frank Babb, Virginia Doolin, Patricia Noel, George Babb, Edith Skinner, and Raymond Babb Jr.
A graveside service will be held later in the spring at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Dover, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charity, Forgotten Felines of Maine, in care of Pam Hansberry, 499 Broadway #151, Bangor, ME 04401.