WINDSOR, VT — Frederick S. Coley, 87 passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2020 at Hanover Terrace in Hanover, NH. His family was able to be a comfort to him in his final days.
He was born on December 8,1932 in Norwalk, CT., the son of Francis B. and Anna R. Coley. He attended Norwalk Schools but moved north in 1956 to Vermont where he spent the rest of his life. A member of the Armed Services, Fred proudly served in the Korean War.
On July 2, 1955, Fred was married to the love of his life, Joyce, celebrating 65 yrs this past month. He and Joyce spent their early days in Vermont at East Ryegate where he worked for a grain company and she presided over the 3 young children with more to follow. After some years in Ryegate, he began commuting to Windsor and stayed the week working at Cone Blanchard Machine Co. After moving Joyce and the children across the river to Cornish, NH from Ryegate and renting at the Chase house for a period, they purchased a fixer upper in Hartland with visions of a larger family. 3 more children followed, with all 6 of them growing up in Hartland.
After a long tenure with Cone Blanchard and their closing, he worked for The Woodstock Inn driving transport bus back and forth from the Inn to Suicide Six. He loved being able to listen to someone’s story or tell them one of his own. You could never tell what the subject of the day might be.
Fred was often the one to be helping people less fortunate than himself or those couldn’t help themselves. No compensation needed beyond a couple of bucks for gas if you needed to be transported somewhere. He was a fan of any type of fair, yardsale, auction, or free pile. It didn’t make him a bad person, just a guy with a lot of stuff. He had a particular affinity for old police cars.
He loved his family, even though it was often hard for him to express. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were his light in his last years and they will miss him dearly.
Fred is survived by his wife Joyce of Windsor and Elm Wood Center of Claremont, NH; sister Virginia Coley Dahl of DeBary, FL; daughters Debra A. Griffin of Windsor, VT , Rebecca L. and Christopher Delong of Windsor, VT; sons Roy E. and Diane Coley of Hartland, VT, Theodore F. and Karen Coley of Hartland, VT, and Walter J. Coley of Hartland, VT; eleven grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and great-grandchildren.
Fred was predeceased by his brother Theodore Coley, grandson Mark Gray, and daughter Amber Gray, whom he loved deeply and missed dearly.
Messages of condolence may be sent to Joyce Coley ℅ Roy Coley 26 Northland Rd, Hartland, VT 05048