BEALS, ME: Verlan Ray Lenfestey Sr passed away peacefully on January 21, 2017 at Marshall Healthcare Facility in Machias, Maine, where he resided for several years. Verlan affectionately known as Verlie was born son of Ewart and Mineola B. Lenfestey on August 12, 1927 on Beals Island. He attended Beals Elementary School and later received his honorary high school diploma from the Beals High School Alumni.
Verlan was a Jack of all trades and enjoyed working as much as an occasional summer boat ride or midnight drives in blustering snow. He dug clams, worms, fished, farmed, milked cows, cut wood and hay, worked teams of horses, worked construction and more. While still in grade school, he started his career on the family farm, once cutting his toes off while splitting wood for the winter’s heat. After having them reattached by Dr. Young of Jonesport, and many prayers, his foot and toes survived. He worked with his brother Chester, seining and transporting herring in the Downeast area. He once survived an explosion and fire aboard a sardine carrier, which burned him beyond recognition with 3rd degree burns and causing him to spend six months in the Ellsworth Hospital. Again, prayers were answered and he survived. For several years he operated the town car ferry between Jonesport and Beals claiming that he once, under the pressure of a salesman, made the crossing in a ninety mile per hour gale. Verlan also worked on the Jonesport Beals Bridge even at one point operating the pile driving barge, driving I Beams into the ocean floor for the underpinnings of the Bridge. He was good at navigating the Moosabec Reach tide, up and over the pile sites and he was offered a job driving piles in the Gulf of Mexico on the first oil platforms to be built there. In typical Down East fashion, he refused the job, not wanting to be away from friends and family. He and a friend Earnest Cirone Sr of South Addison were the first two civilians to cross the bridge by walking the steel I beams before the surface deck was in place. He also worked as a toll collector on the new bridge. Verlan worked in construction on a Bar Harbor School under Omer Norton Sr. He was also a boat builder, learning the trade from and working with his former father-in-law, Elihu Beal, who he loved and respected very much. Verlan was a very strong man, refusing a jack and lifting the oak slabs while Elihu placed the saw horses under the soon to be keels of the lobster boats. He also learned basic wiring from his second Father in Law, Archie Hayward, who he loved and respected as well. Later he bought lobsters for Bert Look of Jonesport and after gaining the trust and confidence of Bert, was asked to manage the Jonesport Supermarket. In 1969, he and Bert opened the Supermarket, where he operated the store as half owner and manager and later learning and serving as a meat cutter, a trade he later taught three of his four sons. In 1978 he and wife Annie Lou purchased controlling interest in the Business where he served the public with a smile and a conversation until he retired about 1990. At this time he passed the reins of the store to his sister Almena and his good friends Millard Alley and wife Marlene and his Son Vj. Thereafter he worked part time as Meat Cutter and went part time lobster fishing with his brother Chester until Chet could no longer fish, then going alone oftentimes taking his granddaughter April or other friend or family member.
Verlan belonged and attended the Church of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and was never afraid to profess his love for the Scriptures and his Creator to anyone that would listen. He was a Mason and Shriner, a member of Jonesport Lodge #188, A.F. & A.M, and the Anah Shrine. He belonged at times to the Mini Car Unit, Anah Wheelers and more. He will always be remembered best for his honesty, generosity, good sense of humor, and his love of guitar music often playing guitar and singing country songs with family and friends for hours on end.
He is survived by children of his former wife, Alverna Williams; son Barry Williams and wife Judy of Maryland; son John Williams and wife Ruby of Deer Isle; his former wife Annie Lou Risley; son James Lenfestey and wife Teresa; daughter Luann Alley of Addison and husband Janssen of Georgia; son Verlan Jr and wife Amy of Addison; Grandsons; Sasha Williams, Ross Chipman and wife Jessica, Darren Williams and girlfriend Krista; James Aaron Lenfestey and girlfriend Caroline; Mathew Alley and girlfriend Michelle; Mitchell Alley. Granddaughters; Anna Williams; Lisa Crowley and husband Dana; April Williams who assisted greatly with the in home care of her “Grampy” and her fiancé Mathew Eaton; Tamra Lenfestey; Kylie Lenfestey. Great- grandsons: Allen Crowley and wife Amanda; Kenneth Crowley and girlfriend Brooke; Brandon Dube. Great-granddaughter Hailey Scott and husband Michael; great-great grandson Preston Scott. Sisters Adele Alley; Joyce Alley and husband Ralph; brother Wilfred Lenfestey and wife Olive; sister in law Margaret Lenfestey; many cousins, nieces and nephews. Also many friends and community members, with special mention of Millard and Marlene Alley, Russell and Roma Batson, Jason Lord, Michael Dewitt, Roy Lenfestey and Verlans’ fellow Masons and Shriners .
Verlan was predeceased by his parents Ewart and Mineola Lenfestey; his wife Caroline; daughter Jan Marie Doray; Grandson-in-Law Raymond Crowley; great-grandson Wayne Douglas Dube; sister Lillian Huntley and her husband Jimmy; sister Lavonne Smith and her husband Halburton (Bertie); brother Chester Lenfestey; sister Almena Alley and her husband Lester Faulkingham; and brother- in- law Joseph Alley.
Family and friends may visit on Thursday, January 26 at 11:00 a.m. until the Funeral that will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God on the corner of W. Jonesport, Maine. Due to predicted inclement weather, graveside internment prayers will be offered at the Church following the funeral. The service will be officiated by Elder Gary Wilson, Elder Dale Smith, and Elder Michael Beal. Arrangements were made by McClure Family Funeral Services, Machias, Maine.

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