Raymond Clemence Marley Jr. departed to join his wife, Flora, of 65 years on Friday, July 15, 2016. He always joked that Fridays is the best day to do what you want, and he wanted to be with Flora “just beyond the moon.”

He was born on Dec. 1, 1927, in Providence, R.I., to Raymond and Anne V (Higgins) Marley. After his mother died when he was 7, he was raised by extended family in various locations across New England. He most fondly remembered growing up at the Sockanasset State School for Boys in Cranston, R.I., where his uncle was superintendent. After all, what kid wouldn’t enjoy having his first car be a used Army tank that he and his friend could drive around the school grounds. Years later, when he had a real car (with a bull’s head hood ornament with horns that lit up), he spotted future wife, Flora Boyd, as she walked the grounds of the Rhode Island State Hospital, where she was working as a registered nurse. It must have been love from the beginning because he had to borrow $10 from her on their first date and she still went out on a second.

Ray was involved in the jewelry business and traveled extensively all over the U.S. Ray and Flora owned a family farm in Cornish before moving to Georgia for many years, then semi-retiring to Florida prior to their return to Maine in 2005. He loved their home in Sebago, Tony’s Donuts, politics, and coffee, if he could have real cream. He was a great and kind father. He once spent an entire afternoon opening cans of sardines along hot and dusty railroad tracks in a successful attempt to save a hungry kitten for his daughter; the story is more remarkable given his terribly allergy to cats.

He is survived by children Raymond, Boyd and Allyson; grandchildren Spenser, Parker, Amelia, Adrian and Jordan; sister and brother-in-law Gracie and Delbert Gilpatric; his grand-dog Daisy, as well as many extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Scarborough.