Walter Kelley

Yarmouth, ME – Walter Francis Kelley, 78, of Yarmouth died of complications of ALS on October 17, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Portland. He was born in Brookline, MA on June 16, 1935, the son of Ethel (McCaffrey) and John Kelley. He graduated from Brookline High School, Class of 1953. He went on to obtain a B.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Walter’s career was all about salesmanship; first as a manufacture’s rep for Ray-O-Vac and then founding his own company, Kelley Sales. His easy smile, a wide breath of knowledge from being an avid reader and a genuine love of others made him a natural and a success. It would also follow that he was a gifted storyteller.

Walter had a lifelong interest in gardening and landscaping and was profiled in a local paper and television program for his talent. His love of nature and the outdoors gave him an abiding love of animals, especially birds.

His family was the renewing wellspring of his life and he will be remembered as a kind, generous and noble man. Despite the ever growing challenges of ALS he was articulate in how he cared for others and was able to gently inspire others with a wisdom born of a reflected life.

Walter is survived by his wife of 55 years, Winifred (Holmes) Kelley; his two children: Laura Kelley Dodds and her husband Cary; Bradford Kelley and his wife Sherie; his four grandchildren: Jason, Bryan, Shawn and Kaitlynn; as well as his great-grandson Austin. He was predeceased by his brother John Kelley and his sister Barbara Saltamacchia.

It was Walter’s request that there be no services. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Walter’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Walter’s memory to: The ALS Association, 1275 K Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20005.