1924 – 2014

AUBURN — Maurice “Moe” Leon Hadley, 90, of West Paris, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Hospice House, surrounded by family and just after a visit with his favorite dog.

Moe was born on June 13, 1924, at the family farm on Heath Hill in Sumner, a son of the late Alton Hadley Sr. and Dora Wing Hadley. He started driving trucks and working with his dad as a young man, until his father’s death when Moe was 18.

Moe was road commissioner for the town of West Paris for 25 years. He then went to work for his brother, Erlon, at E.C. Hadley & Sons as a truck driver and equipment operator for another 25 years, until his retirement. Moe was an old-school trucker and hauled more gravel than any man around. His brother, Erlon, states that he was a very good equipment operator, too.

On July 26, 1970, Moe married Gloria Jean Ward and together they shared a love of ponies. For 35 years, they toured northern New England, going to many fairs, showing and giving demonstrations with their pony hitches. Moe was very good with a six- or eight-pony hitch.

Moe is survived by his wife of 44 years, Gloria Hadley, of West Paris; a son, Roger Hadley, of South Paris and his companion, Kay Daniels; two stepchildren, Lyn Andrews and her husband, Gary, of West Paris and Lon Dresser of Gilead; two brothers, Erlon Hadley of Woodstock and his companion, Frances Wallace, and Glendon Hadley and his wife, Martha, of West Paris; one sister-in-law, Helen Hadley, of Sumner; and three grandchildren, Dr. Deborah Hadley and her husband, Greg Bowman, of Waltham, Mass., Andrew “Grump” Hadley and his wife, Sherri, of West Paris and Chandler Dresser of Gilead. He is also survived by many special nieces and nephews, grand- and great-nieces and nephews and his two Jack Russell terriers, Pebbie and Molly.

Moe was predeceased by his first wife, Audrey Chase Hadley; a daughter, Carmen Jean Hadley; three sisters Althea, Freda and Glennis; two brothers, Alton Jr. and Carroll “Cud” Hadley; and two nephews, Tracy Hadley and Kendall Hadley.