Obituary for Sanford Eldridge Kelley Jr.
Sanford Eldridge Kelley, Jr., 94, passed away on July 21, 2019. Born April 14,1925 in Jonesport Maine, he was the son of the late Sanford and Etta Kelley Sr.
Sanford attended Jonesport High School, graduating Co-valedictorian in 1942. After graduating high school, he worked in a machine shop prior to serving in the army where he was stationed in Italy in 1943. After serving he attended Colburn Classical Institute prep school, then went on to the University of Maine, Orono to graduate with a degree in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering.
After graduation he moved to Anaheim California with two close friends in 1952, where he was employed at Quickset Lock company.He returned to Jonesport Maine after a year to support his family. Shortly after moving back east he moved to Connecticut after accepting a job at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he worked as a mechanical engineer until his retirement in 1991.
Sanford married Bertha Mary Champion in 1957 and first resided in Cheshire Connecticut, then moved to Meriden Connecticut with their first-born child Sandra Elaine. They moved to their newly built house in Vernon Connecticut in 1963 where they lived until their retirement.
In 1991 Sanford and Bertha Mary retired to Jonesport Maine where he built their retirement home on the bay. Sanford became a well-respected blueberry farmer in his retirement years, specializing in fresh pak handpicked blueberries. In addition to farming blueberries, Sanford served on the Wild Blueberry Association of North American (WBANA) and the Jonesport town zoning commission as well as many other area associations that he had interests in.
Sanford was preceded by his wife of sixty-one years, Bertha Mary Kelley. He is survived by her four children, Sandra Elaine Busque and her husband Bradley of Simsbury Connecticut, Sanford Eldridge Kelley III of Jonesport Maine, Cynthia Ann Findeisen of Westery Rhode Island, Michael Fredrick Kelley and his wife Beth of Tolland Connecticut, several grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10 am until time of funeral services at 11 am at the Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church in Jonesport on Thursday July 25, 2019. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared at mcclurefamilyfuneral.com
Sanford attended Jonesport High School, graduating Co-valedictorian in 1942. After graduating high school, he worked in a machine shop prior to serving in the army where he was stationed in Italy in 1943. After serving he attended Colburn Classical Institute prep school, then went on to the University of Maine, Orono to graduate with a degree in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering.
After graduation he moved to Anaheim California with two close friends in 1952, where he was employed at Quickset Lock company.He returned to Jonesport Maine after a year to support his family. Shortly after moving back east he moved to Connecticut after accepting a job at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he worked as a mechanical engineer until his retirement in 1991.
Sanford married Bertha Mary Champion in 1957 and first resided in Cheshire Connecticut, then moved to Meriden Connecticut with their first-born child Sandra Elaine. They moved to their newly built house in Vernon Connecticut in 1963 where they lived until their retirement.
In 1991 Sanford and Bertha Mary retired to Jonesport Maine where he built their retirement home on the bay. Sanford became a well-respected blueberry farmer in his retirement years, specializing in fresh pak handpicked blueberries. In addition to farming blueberries, Sanford served on the Wild Blueberry Association of North American (WBANA) and the Jonesport town zoning commission as well as many other area associations that he had interests in.
Sanford was preceded by his wife of sixty-one years, Bertha Mary Kelley. He is survived by her four children, Sandra Elaine Busque and her husband Bradley of Simsbury Connecticut, Sanford Eldridge Kelley III of Jonesport Maine, Cynthia Ann Findeisen of Westery Rhode Island, Michael Fredrick Kelley and his wife Beth of Tolland Connecticut, several grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10 am until time of funeral services at 11 am at the Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church in Jonesport on Thursday July 25, 2019. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared at mcclurefamilyfuneral.com