STANDISH & BUXTON- Elmer Ivan Farley, 81, of Standish, Maine, passed away on April 13th, at his home surrounded by loved ones after a progressive chronic illness.
Elmer was born on January 20th, 1945, in Mars Hill, Maine to his parents Helen Bradstreet-McLaughlin and Edgar Farley. He grew up splitting his time between his mother and siblings in Sebago Lake and staying summers with his dad Edgar who was a Fire Warden in Houlton, Maine. He often shared fond memories of his time growing up in Houlton, where his dad lived in a small cabin near #9 Tower. He reflected on times when a bear lived under the cabin and told stories about a pet racoon that would steal shiny objects including his wife’s jewelry when they would visit. This time in Houlton was meaningful to Elmer and helped develop his love for hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors. In more recent years Elmer spent as much time as possible visiting Houlton and hunting and fishing with friends Dave Lakin, Pete Harley and Jimmy O’Donnel, as well as running the log roads with his son Ryan Farley and grandson John Cogswell.
Elmers early career involved commercial fishing with his brother, Carl Farley. Elmer eventually left the fishing industry and began work as a steel fabricator and became known for his hard work ethics and his fearlessness. If the job was dangerous, he was the man for the job. He worked as a steel fabricator at Maguire and Jones for many years, welding bridges and scaffolding among many other projects he was proud of.
Elmer married Suzanne Whiting on April 8th in Portland, Maine at The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. They recently celebrated 59 years of marriage. They resided in Buxton, Maine. Elmer and Sue have been the perfect example of opposites attract with Elmer in his flannel and hunter orange attire and Sue dressed to the nines with make-up, hair nails and jewelry to complete hers. Elmer's widespread reputation led many locals to jokingly nickname him the "Mayor." He would often talk to anyone and everyone. He was extremely proud of his son Ryan Farley and bragged often to anyone who would listen about his family, including daughter- in-law Tawny Farley and extended family of 4 grandchildren Shayla (Farley) Brannon and her husband Zack Brannon, Alex Farley and fiancé Andrew “Sven” McCall, John Cogswell and wife Courtney (Kearns) Cogswell and Jewel (Cogswell-Farley) Wilson and her husband Jake Wilson, as well as his 3 great grandchildren, Evelyn Wilson, Levi Wilson, and namesake Ivan Francis Cogswell. Elmer would often say how very lucky he was to have such a close and loving family.
During Elmers earlier years he broke horses, commercial fished, bought a plane and copiloted with good friend Bunk Chase, loved sailing on his Saber with another dear friend Gordon Turcotte, and more recently spent lots of time running the roads with his partner in crime and grand-dog (German Shepherd) Eli. Elmer loved his German Shepherds (Max & Sam) and was usually found with one riding shot gun in his pick-up. He enjoyed riding around and put hundreds of miles on his truck each year visiting friends, favorite stops, and looking for a good fishing hole, or hunting spot. When he wasn’t driving around, he was on his riding lawn mower, and sometimes even cut the grass.
Elmer is survived by his wife Suzanne Farley, and son Ryan Farley and daughter in law. His several Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren as well as his sisters Rena Rairdon, and Marie Farley-Pishnak.
He was preceded in death by parents Helen Bradstreet-McLaughlin, Edgar Farley, his brother Carl Farley, and his sister Gene Hiscoe.
Visitation will be held on Monday May 4th from 5 - 6:45 PM, followed by a 6:45 PM service at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt. 22) in Buxton.
Friends and family are invited to join us.