Obituary of Merrill L. Alley

ADDISON – Merrill Leroy Alley passed away on September 1, 2018, at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine. Merrill was born in Addison, Maine on March 28, 1942 to Herbert Leroy “Roy” and Dorothy Mae “Dot” Alley. As a young man, from 1964 to 1965 he served in the army as an MP and was stationed in West Germany. He was a hard worker, he helped support his family from a young age. He dug worms and clams, and later started fishing the waters of Indian River and Wohoa Bay, first in his lobster boat the “Alley Cat” and later in his favorite boat, the “River Rat.” In later years, he enjoyed going out on the water with his son, fishing the area he had known and loved his whole life. While he worked hard, Merrill played hard too. He enjoyed car racing. He began racing at the Cherryfield Fairgrounds as #55, and later he raced in Deblois in a 1965 Pontiac GTO he built himself. He avidly followed NASCAR, and was a fan of the #9 car driven by Bill Elliott. A highlight for Merrill was cheering on Bill Elliott at the Daytona 500 in 1988. He also delighted in snowmobiling, and loved sledding in the wide open spaces on the Barrens and on Grand Lake Stream. Merrill also had a great love of Elvis Presley’s music and movies. Merrill is predeceased by his parents, daughter Laura Lynn Alley, brother Clifford Ray Alley, and nieces Pamela and Patricia Farnsworth. He is survived by his children, son Clifford Leroy Alley and daughter Kimberly Crowley and her husband, Harvey Crowley, sister Betty Farnsworth, sister and brother-in-law Donna and David Ouellet, grandchildren Linda Jane Alley and Jacklin Emerson, and several nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved. Merrill’s children were the love of his life. Clifford Alley and Kimberly Crowley, both of Addison, invite family and friends to help them celebrate their father’s life at the Addison Town Hall on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 1pm to 4pm. Guests are invited to bring stories and memories of Merrill. Merrill would have asked guests to please leave their tears at the door, he was not big on good-byes and would have wanted a joyous day.