Lloyd E. Willey ’56 died on November 6, 2017, in Bangor, Maine.

(The following appeared online at brookingssmith.com in November 2017):

Hampden – Lloyd E. Willey passed away peacefully at the Maine Veteran’s Home in Bangor, Maine, on November 6, 2017, following a long illness. Lloyd was born on September 19, 1934 in Cherryfield, Maine, to parents James A. “Jim” and Esther E. Willey. Lloyd moved with his family to Topsham, Maine in 1936, where his father began his career in the vending business with Canteen. A short time later, the family was on the move again to Springfield, Massachusetts, where Lloyd grew up and where his Dad managed the Canteen Vending Company operation until the Spring of 1951. His father then purchased the northern Maine franchise territory of the company and operated out of a modest former cow barn in Bangor. This was the humble beginning of the Willey Canteen-Maine franchise, which would eventually provide vending and food services to hundreds of accounts in every county in the state of Maine. This remarkable family business would endure for 66 years and four generations of the Willey family. Lloyd graduated from Bangor High School in 1952, and then Bowdoin College in 1956. He was an avid competitive swimmer during his high school and college years. After Bowdoin, he entered the U.S. Army as a counter-intelligence officer until he returned to the family business in 1958. Lloyd helped his father with the move from Springfield and with the construction of two new, bigger Canteen facilities between 1960 and 1968. Lloyd then took over management of the business from his father in April of 1976. That same year, Lloyd was elected to the Bangor City Council, where he served for three years – and the last year as Mayor. Lloyd’s brother, Jim Willey, Jr., and son, Lloyd Jr. “Bud” were now working in the business. In 1981, they purchased the southern Maine franchise territory from the parent Canteen Vending Company. The Willeys had now expanded their core services from vending only, to a complete foodservice company, with manual cafeterias, executive dining services and catering that often served thousands of guests. Lloyd’s other son Jamie then joined the family team to help with the rapid growth in sales and marketing over the next ten years. Lloyd was very proud of his Cherryfield and Bowdoin College roots, but the business was his everyday passion. However, his family always came first. He gave his children and grandchildren the best opportunity that he could for their education. His advice to them was simple: “Try your hardest to do the best that you can.” Lloyd loved Bangor and was relentless in making his community better. His more than fifty years of public and charitable service began in 1960, when he joined the Board of the Bangor YMCA; and he later served as the State “Y” president. In 1968, Lloyd was named one of Maine’s Outstanding Young Men by the Jaycees. He was past-president of the United Way of Bangor and of the Pine Tree Vending Association, and Vice-President of the Bangor Rotary Club. He also served as a trustee of Grace Methodist Church, Husson College, Eastern Maine Medical Center, YMCA Foundation, Susan Curtis Foundation, and Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church. Lloyd also served as a director of Northeast Bank, United Cerebral Palsy, the Counseling Center, Bangor Center Development Corporation, Maine Chamber of Commerce, and Maine Aspiration Foundation. He was a member of the Rising Virtue Lodge #10 AF & AM and Anah Shriners for more than fifty years. Under Lloyd’s leadership, Canteen was honored with the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence in 1992, and he received the Bangor Chamber’s Norbert X. Dowd Award in 2001. Most recently Lloyd was honored by the Bangor YMCA as Legend of the Year on their 150th anniversary. Lloyd was very proud of these life accomplishments that recognized his effort and contribution to his employees, business and community. Lloyd is survived by his loving wife of thirty-two years, Jaciel Willey, and his children – Lloyd “Bud” Willey Jr. and wife Jennifer, Linda Nye and husband Alan, Laurel Thompson and husband Rolfe, James “Jamie” Willey and wife Cathy Steele, Jennifer Algieri and husband Frank, step-son Matthew Mandeville and wife Miko – and by his sister Susan McKay and wife Patti Woolley, his sister Beverly Loring and husband Peter, his brother James “Jim” Willey and wife Barbara, his brothers-in-law Norman Bateman and wife Cindi, Steven Bateman, Wayne Bateman and wife Mary, his step-brother Bill Hunt and wife Cheryl – and his first wife, Helen Willey. Lloyd had ten grandchildren that he loved very much, Aaron, Rob and Ali Nye, Nicole, Michael, and Danielle Willey, Harrison and Sarah Thompson, Josh Willey, Wave Mandeville, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Lloyd was a wonderful father and there are not enough words to explain the impact Lloyd/Dad had on so many lives. We will cherish the memories shared, the love that he gave to all his family and friends, and how we will miss him so much. The family would like to thank all of the thoughtful healthcare workers from the Maine Veteran’s Home and Premiere Home Care for all the loving care that they gave to him.