LEWISTON – Eldred G. Bartley, 72, of Lewiston, after a long illness, met the Lord Sunday, May 13.

He was born Oct. 15, 1934, in Jackman Station, the son of Edward and Mathilda (Rodrigue) Bartley. He attended school at Edward Little and served from 1957 to 1959 in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.

On Aug. 1, 1959, he married his sweetheart, Cecile Vachon of Auburn. From 1963 to 1977 he was self-employed, and from 1977 through 1995 he was a facilities manager for local institutions. He retired in 1995 after 15 years as chief of maintenance for the Auburn Housing Authority.

He was a long-time member of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International Association and the First Assembly of God Church in Lewiston. He greatly enjoyed people and making them smile. Children were his passion. He also enjoyed leisurely drives, thinking of new ideas, woodworking, old cars, baseball (the Red Sox), reading, hot air ballooning, food of all kinds (Moxie soda, red hot dogs, fried clams and pickled eggs) and above all else his relationship with God.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Cecile of Lewiston; one son, Marcel Bartley, and his wife, Deborah, of Eliot; one daughter, Diane Daskey, and her husband, James Daskey, of Auburn; two brothers, Paul Bartley, and his wife, Jackie, of Henderson, Nev., and William Bartley, and his wife, Nancy, of Kittery; a sister, Cecilia Talpey, and her husband, Frank Talpey, of Englewood, Fla.; four sisters-in-law, Lillian Bartley of Auburn, Jeanine Newcomb, and her husband, Eddie Newcomb, of Auburn, Gisele Gagnon, and her husband, Bertrand Gagnon, of Auburn and Charlotte Larue of Greene; three brothers-in-law, Jules Vachon, and his wife, Theresa Vachon, of Auburn, Albani Vachon of St. Rene, Beauce, Quebec, Canada, and Rene Vachon of Lisbon; three grandchildren, a grandson, Devon Daskey of Auburn and Elizabeth and Amanda Bartley of Eliot; a stepgranddaughter, Vanessa Daskey of South Berwick; along with 20 nephews and 14 nieces.

He was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Mathilda Bartley; his brother, Henry Bartley; and his sister, Beatrice Hart, and her husband, George.

The Twin Cities has lost a great friend in the passing of Eldred Bartley.