Obituary for Albion L. Kelley
Millinocket – Albion Lee Kelley, 86, of Millinocket passed away peacefully after a courageous fight with cancer at his home with his family by his side on April 25, 2021.
Al was born May 9, 1934 in Portland, the son of Harold and Peggy (Briggs) Kelley. At age 6, the family moved to Bangor where they ultimately settled in Veazie. Al attended Bangor area schools and graduated from Bangor High School in 1953 where he played multiple sports but excelled and learned a lifelong love of baseball. Al loved to tell baseball stories of the summer league games and his pitching prowess. Al went to college at the University of Maine Orono to study Mechanical Engineering where he hitchhiked to class every day from Veazie and graduated with honors in 1957. Al decided to try out for the Maine baseball team his senior year and to his own surprise, he made the team after a 3-year hiatus from the sport, earning a Silver M letter during his one year. After graduation Al went to work for Boeing in Seattle, WA where he gained a great appreciation for the Pacific Northwest and its beauty. After a couple years Al decided to return home to his roots in Maine and took a summer job at Great Northern Paper Company paper mill in Millinocket and joined the Maine Air National Guard. Al had intentions of going back to the University of Maine to get a second engineering degree in Electrical Engineering but while in Millinocket he met the love of his life Ethel (Smart) and stayed at the mill joining the engineering department full time. Al’s love of learning continued and while balancing a new job and new life in Millinocket he took night courses at UMO to get his 5th year Pulp & Paper certificate. That same year he continued with the Air National Guard where he passed his pilot training but ultimately became a navigator and radar intercept officer flying F89 Interceptors out of Dow Air Force base in Bangor. Al was proud of the 6 years of active duty in the Maine Air National Guard and was honorably discharged in May 1970.
Al and Ethel were married in October 1960 and enjoyed a wonderful life together in Millinocket for the past 61 years where they settled at the perfect house for them with a large yard and garden. Al and Ethel loved their garden and have kept it up all these years. Al loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends Harvey Bowley and Phil Sturman. Al continued to work at the mill in the Engineering & Research Department until his first retirement in 1994 but returned as a consultant until he retired for the second time in 2000. Ethel retired a year later from the Millinocket School Department, and they enjoyed traveling back to the Pacific Northwest and to Florida on family trips. As well as Southern Maine to watch his grandchildren’s sporting and school events. Al’s love of sports continued throughout his life following the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and the 49er’s.
Al was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Peggy (Briggs) Kelley and a son Steven Kelley.
Al is survived by his wife of 61 years Ethel (Smart) Kelley of Millinocket and three children: daughter Nancy Kelley of Millinocket, son William Kelley and Gloria Dowe of DeBary, FL, and son Dan and wife Julie (Carr) Kelley of Scarborough, ME. One brother Robert Kelley of Bangor. Two grandchildren, Kyle Kelley of Boston, MA and Nicholas Kelley of Shasta, CA. Along with many special lifelong friends that provided amazing support over the last few years – Phil Sturman, Paul Manzo, Joan & Larry Carr, and many others.
A service of remembrance will be held at 11 am on Saturday June 12, 2021 at Lamson Funeral Home at 11 Tamarack St. Millinocket, ME followed by graveside service at Millinocket Cemetery.
Al was born May 9, 1934 in Portland, the son of Harold and Peggy (Briggs) Kelley. At age 6, the family moved to Bangor where they ultimately settled in Veazie. Al attended Bangor area schools and graduated from Bangor High School in 1953 where he played multiple sports but excelled and learned a lifelong love of baseball. Al loved to tell baseball stories of the summer league games and his pitching prowess. Al went to college at the University of Maine Orono to study Mechanical Engineering where he hitchhiked to class every day from Veazie and graduated with honors in 1957. Al decided to try out for the Maine baseball team his senior year and to his own surprise, he made the team after a 3-year hiatus from the sport, earning a Silver M letter during his one year. After graduation Al went to work for Boeing in Seattle, WA where he gained a great appreciation for the Pacific Northwest and its beauty. After a couple years Al decided to return home to his roots in Maine and took a summer job at Great Northern Paper Company paper mill in Millinocket and joined the Maine Air National Guard. Al had intentions of going back to the University of Maine to get a second engineering degree in Electrical Engineering but while in Millinocket he met the love of his life Ethel (Smart) and stayed at the mill joining the engineering department full time. Al’s love of learning continued and while balancing a new job and new life in Millinocket he took night courses at UMO to get his 5th year Pulp & Paper certificate. That same year he continued with the Air National Guard where he passed his pilot training but ultimately became a navigator and radar intercept officer flying F89 Interceptors out of Dow Air Force base in Bangor. Al was proud of the 6 years of active duty in the Maine Air National Guard and was honorably discharged in May 1970.
Al and Ethel were married in October 1960 and enjoyed a wonderful life together in Millinocket for the past 61 years where they settled at the perfect house for them with a large yard and garden. Al and Ethel loved their garden and have kept it up all these years. Al loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends Harvey Bowley and Phil Sturman. Al continued to work at the mill in the Engineering & Research Department until his first retirement in 1994 but returned as a consultant until he retired for the second time in 2000. Ethel retired a year later from the Millinocket School Department, and they enjoyed traveling back to the Pacific Northwest and to Florida on family trips. As well as Southern Maine to watch his grandchildren’s sporting and school events. Al’s love of sports continued throughout his life following the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and the 49er’s.
Al was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Peggy (Briggs) Kelley and a son Steven Kelley.
Al is survived by his wife of 61 years Ethel (Smart) Kelley of Millinocket and three children: daughter Nancy Kelley of Millinocket, son William Kelley and Gloria Dowe of DeBary, FL, and son Dan and wife Julie (Carr) Kelley of Scarborough, ME. One brother Robert Kelley of Bangor. Two grandchildren, Kyle Kelley of Boston, MA and Nicholas Kelley of Shasta, CA. Along with many special lifelong friends that provided amazing support over the last few years – Phil Sturman, Paul Manzo, Joan & Larry Carr, and many others.
A service of remembrance will be held at 11 am on Saturday June 12, 2021 at Lamson Funeral Home at 11 Tamarack St. Millinocket, ME followed by graveside service at Millinocket Cemetery.