ORRINGTON and BREWER -Merton Wesley Farley, 88, passed away peacefully at the Brewer Rehab Center on March 29, 2004, after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Bass Harbor, June 10, 1915, the son of Earle W. Farley and Muriel (Lunt) Farley. His grandparents were Thomas Farley and Rebecca (Kelley) Farley and Charles P. Lunt and Susie (Carter) Lunt. He graduated from Pemetic High School in Southwest Harbor in 1934. Merton had been a resident of Orrington for 53 years and most recently lived at the Ellen Leach Memorial Home in Brewer. He was a member of the Rhode Island National Guard in the years before World War II and during the war he was employed by the Welch-Kaiser Shipyard in Providence, R.I., building patents for the construction of Liberty Ships and Corvette Ships for the war effort. He was a carpenter, specializing in finish carpentry, for most of his life and built many homes in the Eastern Maine area. During the last 10 years of his working career he was the chief carpenter in the Civil Engineering Section of the Maine Air National Guard of Bangor, retiring in 1982. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bertha Strang Farley; two daughters, Judith Fraser and her husband, William Fraser of Orrington, (three grandchildren, Scott Fraser, Dawn Cowan, and Amy Birch); Elizabeth Clifford and her husband, John Clifford of Lewiston, (two grandchildren, John and Nathan Clifford); five sons, Merton “Bud” Farley of Bar Harbor, (grandson Christopher Farley); David Farley and his wife, Patricia Wood Farley of Providence, R.I. and Chocorua, N.H., (three grandchildren, Jeffery, Jason, and Jared Farley); Richard Farley and his wife, Carol Shell Farley of Milton, Fla., (three grandchildren, Kimberly Whitman, David Farley, and Denise Courtemanche); Jon Farley and his wife, Kim Leighton Farley of Hampden, (two grandchildren, Oriana and Evan Farley); Mark Farley and his wife, Susan Gillis Farley of Brewer, (two grandchildren, Alayna and Steven Farley). Merton is survived by 21 great-grand-children, Mason, George, Eleanor, Nicholas, Teresa, Margaret, Alexandra, Samantha, Megan, Emily, Brianne, Rebecca, Kara, Sydney, Madison, Ryan, Daniel, Adam, Bryson, Ellen, Lauren. He also leaves half-brothers Elwell Farley and Thomas Farley; and half-sisters Edith Closson, Eleanor Butler, Earlene Kelley, and Marcia Beal, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Lionel Farley and Rudolph Farley; a sister, Ariel Young, and a half-brother, Albert Farley. Merton thoroughly enjoyed life, especially knowing that he and Bertha are responsible for bringing into this world seven children, 16 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren and still counting. He was proud of them all and often could be overheard bragging about their many accomplishments. He loved talking about caddying for Admiral Byrd long ago and enjoyed reminiscing about the various automobiles that had been part of his life, such as a Hupmobile, Pierce Arrow, Plymouth, Javelin, and various Buicks, and Oldsmobiles. He also was proud of his collection of woodworking tools, which he had gathered over the years. Merton will be greatly missed. Friends and relatives may visit from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, at Kiley Funeral Home, 69 State St., Brewer. Graveside services will be held at a later date. Contributions in memory of Merton may be sent to Maine Special Olympics, 125 John Roberts Road, # 19, South Portland, ME 04106.