Ernest E. Burleigh

Ernest E. Burleigh, 84, of Sanford, died at his home on Sunday, July 10, 2016.Ernest was born in Biddeford on August 15, 1931 to Merlin and Dorris (Manter) Burleigh. He grew up in Kennebunk where he attended local schools, graduating from Kennebunk High School in 1949. In 1950 he married Ruth A. Duprey and together they shared 66 years of marriage and raised four children. During his working life Ernest was employed at several textile mills and auto dealerships before taking a job at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he was stayed for 34 years before his retirement. Never one to sit idle, he then began working part-time for an independent contractor at the shipyard and also operated his own small engine repair business out of his home which he continued to do until he stopped working last year due to declining health.Ernest was a talented musician and played numerous instruments. He was involved in several country music bands including Ernie and the Squires and the Saco Valley Countrymen. He was a very active and outgoing man with many friends. He enjoyed taking many trips with his wife traveling throughout the United States and Canada. When he was younger he also enjoyed going hunting. Ernest was a hard working man who took pride in providing for his family. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband and father and will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Ernest was predeceased by his brother, Richard Michaels.Surviving are his wife, Ruth Burleigh of Sanford; four children, Bob Burleigh and his wife Lorraine of Kennebunk, Richard Burleigh of Riverside, California, Randy Burleigh and his wife Joy of Wells Branch and Doris Edenfield and her husband Darrell of Tifton, Georgia; seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 14th at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home located at 580 Main Street in Springvale. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 15th. Interment will follow at Hope Cemetery in Kennebunk.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.