John “Jay” Labrie
December 1, 1946 – February 12, 2026
PORTLAND- Jay LaBrie was born on the family potato farm in Frenchville, Maine on December 1, 1946. He was the youngest of three children and the only son of Sylvio and Eva (Roy) LaBrie. He was raised in a loving environment that nurtured his interest in the beauty of his surroundings. He attended local schools graduating from Fort Kent High School. He pursued his talent in painting and studied at Butera School of Art in Boston, where he learned one could not make a living as an artist. He worked in Connecticut at Stanley Tools, in New York City at Macy’s Department Store before settling in Portland in 1969. He worked at Maine Surgical Supply Company and at Mercy Hospital. He then returned to school at Mansfield Beauty Academy with further study in New York and Rhode Island. Upon graduating he was employed as a hair stylist in the beauty shop at Porteous Department Store. He left Porteous to open his own hair shop, Design 1, in downtown Portland in 1978. Jay was loved by his many clients who became lifelong friends.
Jay loved to travel, especially to the warmth of the Mediterranean locales of Majorca, Ibiza, Venice, and the Caribbean Islands of St. John, Granada St. Maarten, Aruba and Bonaire. He frequently returned to the Saint John Valley in northern Aroostook County to visit family and restore his soul. He vacationed on Long Island in St. Agatha for over twenty years.
During Jay’s many travels, he was never without his sketchbook, pencils, pens and canvasses. He rendered beautiful landscapes, cityscapes, portraits and abstracts. His St. John Valley paintings were exhibited in a one man show at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. His work was also displayed at several studios and galleries in Portland. He taught oil painting at Park Danforth through a University of New England program, as well as teaching many private students in his Portland studio. He traveled to Europe, enjoying and sketching the sights in Tangiers, Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain, and Venice and Florence, Italy. He shared his love of sketching and painting with his son, Connor.
Jay met Glenn Anderson in 1979 and they became lifelong friends and partners, marrying in 2013. They shared many adventures, travelling together to various locations throughout the United States and especially in Maine. They returned annually to the Saint John Valley where Jay grew up and from there ventured into Canada. They toured the Gaspe Peninsula by car, zip lined over the St. John River, and cheered on the mushers during the CanAm dogsled races.
Jay was predeceased by his parents and both sisters. He is survived by his partner, Glenn Anderson, and his son, Connor Murphy.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday Feb. 22nd from 2 – 4 PM, followed by a 4 PM memorial service at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt.22) in Buxton. Burial will be private at Riverside Cemetery in Hollis. Online condolence messages can be submitted at the funeral home website, www.mainefuneral.com.