Shirley Gilbert Kelley

AUGUSTA -- Shirley Gilbert Kelley, born May 14, 1912, went to be with his savior March 4, 2009.

The son of Annette Stanwood Peaslee and George Peaslee, he was adopted by Maurice and Myra Kelley.

Mr. Kelley was predeceased by both sets of parents; a sister, Hazel Peaslee Alley and her husband, Curtis; a half-sister, Vinelene System Carver and her husband, Glen; and his adopted family, Noyes Alley and his wife, Blanch, Octavia Alley Beal and her husband, Nat, Lula Alley and her husband, Almanda, Lawrence Kelley and his wife, Hannah, Fletcher Alley and Clayton Alley.

Shirley married Etta Beal, the daughter of George and Emma Beal. They were married for 74 happy years and best of friends. They had three children, Betty Lou Kelley Merchant, who passed away on Dec. 25, 1998; Arnold Leamont Kelley, of West Gardiner, and Ardis Marie Kelley Tibbetts, of Augusta, and her husband, William. Grandchildren are Audwin Merchant and his wife, Susie, and their five children, Anthony, Kaitlin, Matthew, Stephen and Kristin Bettylou, all of Dallas, Ga.; David Merchant and his daughter, Angel Richards, of Marietta, Ga.; Jesse Merchant and his wife, Laura, and their three daughters, Alisha, Jessica and Ashley, of Marietta; Laurie Alley Dyer and her husband, Matthew, and their family, Joshua Tobias and Kayla Tobias, of West Gardiner, Pfc. Zachary Tobias, Army, Fort Benning, Ga., and Richard Dyer and Nichole Dyer, of Unity. He also leaves son-in-law Jessie Merchant Sr. and his wife, Bettina, of Beals, and daughter-in-law Wilma Kelley (predeceased in 1998), wife of Arnold Kelley.

Shirley was a lobsterman and fisherman for more than 50 years. He also was part owner in three wiers. For many years, Shirley worked fishing for sardines. He and his wife lived on Beals Island all of their lives until 2005, when they relocated to Augusta to live with their daughter and son-in-law. Shirley attended Beals schools and was a member and deacon of Beals Advent Christian Church. For the past four years, he had attended the Chelsea Advent Christian Church with his family.

His passion was sports. He especially enjoyed the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics and, in recent years, the New England Patriots. His hobbies included watching the birds around the feeders, flower gardens, woodworking and reading his Bible. Mr. Kelley was very close to his wife's family, George and Emma Beal, and their children Clinton "Buddy" Beal, Arnold Beal, Alfreda Beal Libby, Ernestine Beal Alley, who are all deceased, leaving his wife Etta and her sister Iona Beal Woodward as the sole survivors. In addition, he leaves behind three close nephews, Ray and Dana Beal and George Woodward, and his special neighbor Arden Alley.

Uncle Shirl will be remembered by all those that had the pleasure of meeting him, enjoying his good humor, listening to him sing in the church choir, or if you were fortunate, you had some of his lobster stew and or clam chowder. Most of all, he will be remembered for the love and joy he had for his family. He will be sadly missed.

Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Services will be performed by the Rev. George L. Woodward and Pastor David York at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at the Chelsea Adventist Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Beals Advent Christian Church, Beals, ME 04611; or Chelsea Advent Christian Church, c/o Donna Whitaker, 65 Longwood Ave., Augusta, ME 04330.