Obituary for Charles Kelley
Ellsworth
Charlie Kelley, 86, died after a brief illness September 16, 2023. He was born September 24, 1936, in Hodge, Louisiana, son of Charles L. and Merle S.E. (Lincoln) Kelley.
After his mother died, Charlie moved back to Maine at the age of twelve, where he had spent many summers with his family in Bangor and Lamoine. From that point on, he was forever a Mainer, and built his life in the Ellsworth community. He attended the University of Miami, Florida, before joining the Army where he served two years. He then returned home to marry his long-term girlfriend, JoAnne (Boynton) Lambdin of Lamoine. They had four children and spent much of their time with the Boynton family in Lamoine or at camp at Donnell’s Pond. Although the marriage didn’t last, they remained close friends, and he always remained part of JoAnne’s family.
His livelihood was Real Estate, and oh, how he loved to sell waterfront land. He was well-known at the after-hours Chamber of Commerce parties and loved to socialize. But his real passions were his family, duck-hunting, and fishing. He was very much part of the wildlife community and was heavily involved in Ducks Unlimited and the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. He enjoyed duck-hunting with his friends and loved fly-fishing even more. Charlie tied flies and hand-built fly rods, which were cherished by many. He also gave his time freely to help the conservation of wildlife. One of his greatest passions was working with the Fish Friends program. Each year he brought fish eggs to be raised in many local classrooms, where he spent a lot of time teaching the importance of conservation. He loved the final field trips, where he would accompany the children to local rivers to release the small fry into the river.
Charlie loved his family beyond measure. His kids’ childhoods were filled with outdoor activities; he taught them to waterski, canoe, fish (a lot!), snowmobile, and hike almost all the mountains of Acadia. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he spent as much time with them as he could. They remember wrestling on the floor with him, hiking, getting scared by the live lobsters he brought, and many many family get-togethers at his cottage in Lamoine. He followed their interests and participated as much as he could. He was very proud of all of them.
As the years progressed, Charlie could be a bit of a curmudgeon, with a colorful vocabulary to match, and was perhaps a bit of a handful. But through it all, he was a good man and lived an extraordinary life. He loved deeply and will be mourned by many.
Charlie is survived by and was the loving father of Laurie and Mike Stevens of Eugene, OR; Theresa Kelley of Sedgwick, Sharon Kelley and husband Byron Hathcock of Portland, ME; Scott Lambdin of Bar Harbor. He was adored by his grandchildren Will and Ben (Laurie); Mike and Katie (Theresa); and Quinn and fiancé Hannah, Maxen and Brie (Sharon). He is also survived by ex-wives Joanne Lambdin and Sharon Root Kelley; half-brothers Mike, Jo and Ed Kelley; He was pre-deceased by his brother, John Kelley; and his parents, Charles and Merle (and step-mother Dotty) Kelley.
Friends are invited to call from 4-6pm where a memorial service will be held at 5:30 pm Friday, October 6, 2023, Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. A celebration of life honoring Charlie’s joy of family and friends will also be held over the summer of 2024. Donations in Charlie’s memory can be made to the Fish Friends Program, ℅ Maine Council ASF. Checks can be made to MCASF, 32 Helen’s Way, Brunswick ME 04012.
Condolences may be shared through www.jordanfernald.com.
Charlie Kelley, 86, died after a brief illness September 16, 2023. He was born September 24, 1936, in Hodge, Louisiana, son of Charles L. and Merle S.E. (Lincoln) Kelley.
After his mother died, Charlie moved back to Maine at the age of twelve, where he had spent many summers with his family in Bangor and Lamoine. From that point on, he was forever a Mainer, and built his life in the Ellsworth community. He attended the University of Miami, Florida, before joining the Army where he served two years. He then returned home to marry his long-term girlfriend, JoAnne (Boynton) Lambdin of Lamoine. They had four children and spent much of their time with the Boynton family in Lamoine or at camp at Donnell’s Pond. Although the marriage didn’t last, they remained close friends, and he always remained part of JoAnne’s family.
His livelihood was Real Estate, and oh, how he loved to sell waterfront land. He was well-known at the after-hours Chamber of Commerce parties and loved to socialize. But his real passions were his family, duck-hunting, and fishing. He was very much part of the wildlife community and was heavily involved in Ducks Unlimited and the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. He enjoyed duck-hunting with his friends and loved fly-fishing even more. Charlie tied flies and hand-built fly rods, which were cherished by many. He also gave his time freely to help the conservation of wildlife. One of his greatest passions was working with the Fish Friends program. Each year he brought fish eggs to be raised in many local classrooms, where he spent a lot of time teaching the importance of conservation. He loved the final field trips, where he would accompany the children to local rivers to release the small fry into the river.
Charlie loved his family beyond measure. His kids’ childhoods were filled with outdoor activities; he taught them to waterski, canoe, fish (a lot!), snowmobile, and hike almost all the mountains of Acadia. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he spent as much time with them as he could. They remember wrestling on the floor with him, hiking, getting scared by the live lobsters he brought, and many many family get-togethers at his cottage in Lamoine. He followed their interests and participated as much as he could. He was very proud of all of them.
As the years progressed, Charlie could be a bit of a curmudgeon, with a colorful vocabulary to match, and was perhaps a bit of a handful. But through it all, he was a good man and lived an extraordinary life. He loved deeply and will be mourned by many.
Charlie is survived by and was the loving father of Laurie and Mike Stevens of Eugene, OR; Theresa Kelley of Sedgwick, Sharon Kelley and husband Byron Hathcock of Portland, ME; Scott Lambdin of Bar Harbor. He was adored by his grandchildren Will and Ben (Laurie); Mike and Katie (Theresa); and Quinn and fiancé Hannah, Maxen and Brie (Sharon). He is also survived by ex-wives Joanne Lambdin and Sharon Root Kelley; half-brothers Mike, Jo and Ed Kelley; He was pre-deceased by his brother, John Kelley; and his parents, Charles and Merle (and step-mother Dotty) Kelley.
Friends are invited to call from 4-6pm where a memorial service will be held at 5:30 pm Friday, October 6, 2023, Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. A celebration of life honoring Charlie’s joy of family and friends will also be held over the summer of 2024. Donations in Charlie’s memory can be made to the Fish Friends Program, ℅ Maine Council ASF. Checks can be made to MCASF, 32 Helen’s Way, Brunswick ME 04012.
Condolences may be shared through www.jordanfernald.com.