Joseph B. Shadow Foley Obituary (1924 - 2011)

PORTLAND - Joseph B. "Shadow" Foley, of Portland died July 15, 2011 at the Barron Center with his loving family by his side. He was born November 25, 1924, in Portland, a son of Martin J. Foley and Katherine O'Hehir Foley. Joe grew up in the West End section of Portland with his mother and four sisters Delia Sloan, Mary Miller, KP Foley, and Margaret (Peggy) Jewett, his father having passed when he was a child. Joseph attended local schools and was a graduate of Cheverus High School. Following high school, "Shadow" joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served during WWII in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning the rank of Corporal. Upon returning from the war, Joe began working as a firefighter for the Portland Fire Department. After 27 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant in 1973. He was also employed by Casco Bank for ten years as well as working for Conroy-Tully Funeral Home in Portland. He married Alice Hargadon April 23, 1949, at St. Patrick's Church, and they began raising their family in the Deering Center area of Portland. Shadow had the Irish "gift of gab" and was a consummate prankster and jokester. A debilitating stroke in 1997 robbed him of his ability to speak clearly, but did not break his spirit or sense of humor. When he could no longer drive he would walk and bus to the mall daily to make his rounds and pass out his Werther's candies to his many friends. To the ladies at the mall he was affectionately known as the "Candy Man". Joseph was predeceased by his parents and his wife Alice in 1989. Surviving are a daughter, Carolyn Warner and her husband Robert of Clive, Iowa; two sons, Martin J. Foley, Esq. and his partner Kelly Butterfield of Portland, Maine; Dr. William L. Foley, Colonel, USAF, Ret. and his wife Janet of New Bern, NC; a sister, KP Foley of South Portland, Maine; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Mitchell of Livermore Falls, Maine, and four grandchildren, Allison Mazer of Clive, Iowa; Brandon Mazer of Windham, Maine; Katie Foley of New Bern, NC, and Hayley Foley of New Bern, NC. The family would like to thank and commend the staff at the Barron Center for their compassion and dedication to Joe's needs these past few years. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at 10:15 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress Street, Portland. Interment with Military Rites will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Those desiring may make memorial donations in his name to: The Bruce Roberts Toy Fund, P.O. Box 7310, Portland, ME 04112. Online Condolences for Joseph Foley