Frederick W. Overkamp, formerly from West Boothbay Harbor, passed away Feb. 24, 2023, in St. George, Utah at the age of 83 due to complications after heart surgery.

He was born on Sept. 6, 1939, the son of Joseph and Alice Struck Overkamp of Little Falls, New Jersey.

Fred and his wife Cathy built their business Christmas Magic from the ground up, starting from their first venture Sleigh Bells Christmas Shop and Gallery in Warren, Maine. Over the next 35 years they worked together, expanding their shops to locations in Boothbay Harbor, Freeport, Auburn and Wiscasset, Maine. They worked together for 35 years, selling collectables, ornaments, and local crafts to visitors from around the world.

Fred was an active member of the Southport United Methodist Church for over 25 years, enjoying choir and cherished friends. He could often be found with his buddies at the Boothbay Railway Village, building the train layouts, and contributing his artistic talents to scenery and buildings. He contributed dig time and artistic talent to archeological projects in the area, one being Indiantown Island. A volume documenting their finds in intricate artwork by Fred is housed at the Maine State Museum. He enjoyed basketball at the YMCA and tennis at Juniper Point. He loved the beauty of the area and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the business community.

After a move to Hurricane, Utah in 2011, he began volunteer work in paleontology at the Dinosaur Discovery Site in St. George, Utah, where he was part of a field survey for the new Hwy 7. He volunteered many years, extracting fossils of phytosaurs and plants in the lab for collections in Salt Lake City.

Fred was a talented oil painter. In his younger years he participated in sidewalk art shows selling his works depicting coastal New England scenes. Later, he often painted from his travels in New Mexico and Utah. He shared a two person show with his daughter Joanna at Blue Rain Gallery in Taos, New Mexico.

He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Catherine; two daughters, Joanna R. Overkamp, of Hurricane, Utah, and Jill E. Overkamp Dawson, of Mason, Ohio; their “adopted” son, John O'Donnell of Hurricane, Utah; a son-in-law, Scott Dawson, of Woodbury, Minnesota; a granddaughter, Olivia A. Dawson, of Woodbury, Minnesota; a sister, Janet C. Overkamp Braen and her husband George C. Braen; a nephew, Joseph Braen and wife Nancy; a grandniece, Mary Braen; and a grandnephew, Daniel Braen, all of Hamden, Connecticut. 

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Elliott T. Dawson; niece, Linda C. Braen; and two sisters, Dr. Corine R. Overkamp M.D. and Lois A. Overkamp.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 4 at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in St. George, Utah with Dr. Rev. Ralph Clingan officiating. His remains will be buried in the Rose Garden at the Church at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred’s memory to the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, 2180 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary, and funeral listings.