CAPE ELIZABETH – Nelson Remick Searway, who was born Nov. 19, 1939, in Ashland, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, after a long battle with cancer.
He graduated from Ashland High School and attended Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, where he majored in automotive repair. Nelson worked as an oiler, and from there he pursued his career with Ford dealers throughout Southern Maine. He went on to own and operate Searway Ford Sales, Sanford and Springvale. Nelson was an avid golfer and one of thirteen owners of the Sanford Country Club. With his wife Eleanor, he invested in real estate in South Portland. During his retirement his love of horses led him to own Searway Stables and race harness horses. Nelson was very involved with the community. He was a member of Sanford/Springvale Rotary Club, and supported his children and grandchildren in their extracurricular activities. Nelson enjoyed square dancing and cruises, and spent six months of the year in Florida playing golf, bingo, shuffle board and loved playing cards. He loved sports and was an avid supporter of the New England Professional sports teams.
Nelson is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Eleanor (Hall) Searway; his brother, Albert “Bub” Searway; sisters, Marjorie Grey and Janis MacDonald; sons, Mark of Scarborough and Rick and wife, Maureen, of Humble, Texas; daughters, Laura Searway and Julia Mullen of South Portland and Sharon Kirkpatrick and husband, Robert, of Westbrook; 12 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Walter and Ada Searway; brother, Hazen Searway; sister, Barbara Sahlin; and grandson, Cody Searway.
There will be no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland, a reception afterward at E. Hobbs Hospitality Center. In lieu of flowers, please do something nice for family or friends.