Vance Aubrey Daley

WHITEFIELD -- Vance Aubrey Daley, 81, passed away at his home on Sunday, April 24, 2011, after a brief illness.

Vance was born Aug. 2, 1929, in Brockton, Mass., the son of Aubrey and Edna Pitman Daley, and moved to Gardiner at the age of 5. Vance attended Gardiner schools and graduated from Gardiner High School in June of 1950.

He was a member of the National Guard from 1952 to 1963. Also in 1952, Vance married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Arlene Campbellton.

Vance worked for more than 25 years at the Gardiner Shoe Factory in Gardiner before starting his own business with the lunch cart called Daley's Dog House, which he ran for 10 years. He truly loved going from business to business with the lunch cart because of the interaction with people. He also owned a building at the Windsor Fair with the same name for 30 years and every year looked forward to the eight days he would spend there. Even though that is long gone now, he still enjoyed going to the fair and walking around and talking to all the people.

Vance was a member of the Gardiner Police Department as a special policeman for 30 years. This was one of his proudest and most loved accomplishments. He also served as deputy sheriff for the Kennebec Sherriff Department for several years. He also loved fishing, bowling, parades, and horses.

He was a member and past president of the Maine Horse Association, and a member and past president of the Maine Trail Riders. He also enjoyed showing horses, and was Ring Steward for the Quarter Horse Association for many years.

Vance and Phyllis traveled together extensively and wintered in Florida for 20 years.

Besides his wife, Vance is survived by sisters Jean Cates-Cain, of West Gardiner, and Myrna Cloutier and husband Norman of Gardiner; mother-in-law Beatrice Campbellton; sister-in-law Betty McKay; brothers-in-law Frank Campbellton and wife Jeannette, Dennis Campbellton and wife Gloria, and Billy Campbellton and wife Debbie, all of Chelsea; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and his two precious shelties, Sammy and Shelley.

He was predeceased by his parents; father-in-law Fred Campbellton; and brothers-in-law Manley Cates, Eldred Cain and John Campbellton.

Friends may gather at Staples Funeral Home on Brunswick Avenue in Gardiner on Thursday at 1 p.m., where a service will be held at 2 p.m. Interment will follow the service at Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to HeathReach Hospice, P.O. Box 828 Waterville, ME 04903.