Melville Allen Corey

Melville Allen Corey, of South Portland, died July 9, 2026 at Maine Medical Center.

 Born in Brewer, Maine, on August 19, 1937, Mel is a son of Allen Langley Corey and Lulu (Bennett) Corey of East Eddington, Maine. Mel attended schools in that town and Brewer High School. Joining the US Navy at 17, this small-town boy had an opportunity to visit many foreign countries. Upon his return to Maine, Mel became an apprentice mortician and ambulance driver, and on September 12, 1959, married Patricia (Bowden). The newlyweds moved to Auburn, Maine, where he served an internship at Dillingham and Son Funeral Home and their daughter Kimberly was born.  

While living near Boston, Mel became a licensed funeral director and embalmer, graduating from the New England Institute of Anatomy and Physiology. He graduated from the University of Maine Portland-Gorham with a B.S. degree. Mel, Pat, and Kim moved back to Auburn where Mel was offered a job with Dillingham Funeral Home, where he worked for 18 years and raised their family which included daughter Khristine, and twin sons Jay and Jim. 

He was a member of the Masons and the Odd Fellows of Maine. Both Mel and Pat were active in Odd Fellows and installed Noble Grand from their respective lodges. 

 Mel taught basic and advanced first aid throughout the community. He taught industrial First Aid at the International Paper Company in Jay, Maine. 

The family developed a love for Mount Katahdin and spent nearly every summer climbing the Maine treasure, a tradition which continues for more than 40 years. The newest generation of grandchildren have taken the torch while, in their 70’s Mel and Pat chose to stay at camp and enjoy the view. 

Mel and Pat moved the family to Westbrook and owned and operated several companies in Portland where he taught scuba diving and ran the retail store which sold scuba equipment. Deciding to start a new venture, Mel sold the business and operate a commercial real estate company. Then, off a new challenge, he became a partner at Body Guard which produced truck accessories. 

Mel’s hobbies were many. Always comfortable in the mountain, he climbed the three tallest mountains in the continental US. The family sailed and raced around Casco Bay until he and Pat tired of handling those massive sails. Now with a powerboat, the family could cruise from Penobscot Bay to Cape Cod. Winter was spent at their condo at Sugarloaf where all the grandchildren and great grandchildren learned how to ski and snowboard. 

Mel is survived by his wife Pat (Bowden) Corey, daughter Kimberly (Corey) Girard from Ocean Park, daughter Khristine (Corey) Fox of Windham, son Jay Corey and his wife Barbara Corey (Reid), and James Corey and his husband Clark Pickett from Seattle, Washington. Known as “Papa”, he has seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. 

 He is also survived by his sister Sandy (Farrington) Corey and sister-in-law Margaret Corey as well as several nieces and nephews and their children. He is predeceased by his parents Allen and Lulu Corey and brother Authur Corey. 

The family will be having a private celebration of life. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of South Portland.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.