HERMON and BANGOR – Ralph Conley, 95, died peacefully Feb. 10, 2012, at a local health care facility. Ralph was born July 26, 1916, in Perham, the eighth child of Wessley B. and Annie M. (Plecity) Conley.
He attended schools in Ashland and Presque Isle. He played high school baseball and enjoyed watching the sport all his life. He witnessed the Boston Red Sox win two World Series and wore his 2004 championship hat with pride. He was a consummate woodsman and enrolled in the Civil Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. He loved the ocean, was a great storyteller, enjoyed a game of cards and was a kind, gentle, caring man.
Ralph was a front end alignment man for M.L. Coffin until his retirement and then worked part time plowing driveways, mowing lawns and maintaining Hermon School Department’s athletic fields. In 1997 UPS recognized him for 20 years of safe plowing of their Brewer facility. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Bangor; Lynde Lodge AF & AM No. 174, Hermon; Scottish Rite, Valley of Bangor; Anah Temple Mystic Shrine, Bangor; and Triumph Lodge No. 119, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hermon.
He is survived by his adored wife, Daphine (Theriault) Conley; devoted brother, Lester and companion, Bea Lazette, of Westland, Mich., sister-in law, Annette Conley of Wolcott, Conn., sister-in-law, Patricia Doyle and husband, Joe, of Mapleton; sister-in-law, Nita Theriault of Presque Isle; special niece, Dolly Sullivan and husband, Tom, of Bucksport; friends, Jim and Gaynor Reynolds of Hermon, whom Ralph considered as family; numerous nieces and nephews around the country. He was predeceased by 14 siblings, Rena, Blanche, Arthur, Pearl, Florence, Joseph, William, Chester, Edward, Louis, Margaret, Philip, Phyllis and Wesley Jr. Heartfelt gratitude is extended to the ladies who cared for him in his apartment, Tony Reynolds and Chris Reynolds of Longrale Apartments, and the staffs of Westgate Manor and Beacon Hospice.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Susan Davenport officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the service. Interment will be at Sebec Corner Cemetery, Sebec, in the spring. Those who wish to remember Ralph in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Westgate Manor Activity Fund, 750 Union St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.