BANGOR and BREWER Shirley F. “Slip” Corey, 84, died Aug. 4, 2005, at Westgate Manor in Bangor. He was born Aug. 12, 1920, at Holden, the son (and last of seven children) of William and Wilhelmina (Bower) Corey. He graduated from Brewer High School in 1939. He married his high school sweetheart, Helen Kealiher in 1940 and they enjoyed 62 years together until her death in 2002. Slip served in the U.S. Army, 277th Engineer Combat Battalion in the European Theater of Operations as a sergeant from 1943-1946. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Slip worked for his father-in-law at Kealiher’s Market for several years before beginning a 27-year career with the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. He held several positions with the railroad, finally serving as manager of the Highway Division until his retirement at the age of 62. Slip’s enduring legacy will be his unmatched contribution to Little League Baseball. He was a founding member of the Brewer Little League in 1954. Slip and long-time assistant, Bob DeBeck, devoted countless hours of instruction and encouragement to Brewer’s budding ballplayers. He touched the lives of hundreds of local youths and his love of baseball helped him to lead his teams to many victories and several championships. Together, Corey and DeBeck coached Brewer Little League teams for more than three decades. Slip received the Kenneth C.M. Sills Award, honoring him as the outstanding Little League Manager in Maine of 1960. Additionally, the Corey-DeBeck-Morelli Field was dedicated in their honor on June 25, 1991. Finally, Slip was elected to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame on July 20, 2003. Slip along with his wife, Helen was a loyal member of the First Congregational Church of Brewer and a devoted participant in the Church’s dart ball program. He is survived by a daughter, Donna Varney and her husband, Richard, of Morristown, N.J.; a son, Dana Corey and his wife, Ruth, of Brewer; five grandsons, Arden Varney and his wife, Janine, of Raleigh, N.C., Scott Varney of Little Falls, N.J., Troy Corey and his wife, Jen, of Mechanicsville, Va., Jack Corey and Courtney Rancourt, both of Brewer; three granddaughters, Kimberly (Varney) Reasor and her husband, Gary, of Port Murray, N.J., Tamara Corey of Brewer, and Miranda Rancourt of Brewer; four great-grandchildren, Kyle and Jenna Gorman of Raleigh, N.C. and Andrew and Daniel Reasor of Port Murray, N.J.; several nieces and nephews, including his special nephew and coaching assistant, Bob DeBeck. In addition to his wife, and parents; he was predeceased by his two brothers and four sisters. Slip and his family were always appreciative of the loving care he received from the wonderful personnel at Westgate Manor. A Memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Constance S. Chase Wells, Pastor of the First Congregational U.C.C. of Brewer, officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., after the service on Saturday. Slip will join his wife, Helen, by being interred in the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Those who wish to remember Slip in a a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Memorial Fund of the First Congregational Church of Brewer, 35 Church St., Brewer, ME 04412 and/or to the Brewer Little League, care of Phil Pushard, 103 Starlight Drive, Brewer, ME 04412.
SHIRLEY ‘SLIP’ COREY
