WATERVILLE and HAMPDEN – Edward Robert Willey, Sr., 56, the husband, Marlene A. (Provencher) Willey, passed away Feb. 28, 2005, at a Waterville hospital after a long illness with cancer. He was born in Bangor, Sept. 18, 1948, the son of Carleton F. and Eleanor (Gary) Willey. Ed grew up in Hampden and graduated third in the Class of 1966 at Hampden Academy. Edward was a hard worker, and had worked for Asplund Tree Company, where he was their only licensed arborist, for Lucas Tree Company on the Alaskan Pipeline, for Dysart’s Truck Stop for many years, Napa Auto Parts in Dover-Foxcroft and had been a school bus driver for Hampden and Newburgh. Ed also worked as a correctional officer at Charleston Correctional Center for nine years and became very active in the AFSCME union (American Federation for State, County and Municipal Employees). He became a field representative for AFSCME, and was later promoted to Coordinator of the State of Maine for the union. Ed was a volunteer for the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department and received recognizance for 10 years of dedicated service. He was also a board member for Selective Service, was a member of the Elks Lodge No. 905 of Waterville and a former member of Rising Virtue Masonic Lodge No. 10 of Bangor. Ed enjoyed being in his boat on a bright sunny day, a campfire at night even in the wintertime, and riding his motorcycle. He is survived by his wife, Marlene, of Waterville; his mother and father, Eleanor and Carleton Willey of Hampden; his son, Edward Willey Jr. “Bo” and his wife, Jessica, and grandson, Hunter, of Old Town; a daughter, Nichole Richards of Hermon and grandchildren, Ashley, P.J. and Bohannan; a sister, Lorraine Leonard and her husband, James, of Hampden and their children, Dale, Dean and Jeri; a brother, Dana Willey and his lady, Jody, of Newburgh; stepchildren, Greg Reed and Nicholas Reed of Waterville; mother and father-in-law, Edwin and Irene Provencher of Byron; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and brothers and sisters-in-law and a special friend, Howard Leeman. A celebration of Edward’s life will be held 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden, with Pastor Chuck Langbein, pastor of the Ellingwood’s Corner United Methodist Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until time of service at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edward R. Willey, Sr. Memorial Cancer Fund, care of EMMC Charities, P.O. Box 404, Bangor, ME 04402-0404. Messages of condolence or memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com.
EDWARD ‘ED’ R. WILLEY SR,
