J. Wayne Lolley

GRAY – On the morning of March 3, 2023, John “Wayne” Lolley, 75, of Gray, quietly slipped away in the loving comfort of his wife Kathleen and daughter Melanie at the Gosnell House in Scarborough. With unsurpassed courage and determination, Wayne received years of intermittent radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments for Adenocarcinoma before succumbing to end stage COPD.

Wayne was born July 25, 1947 to John W. Libby and Mary Nichols Libby of Scarborough and adopted by his stepfather, Richard Lolley at the age of 12.

After graduating from Gray-New Gloucester High School in 1967, he attended the University of Maine until receiving his request for military service. On Jan. 28, 1969 Wayne joined the Navy going on to Propulsion Engineering School and Boilerman Class “A” School at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois.

Upon graduation, he was assigned to the USS Midway at San Francisco Bay Shipyard where he was a member of the crew in “the most comprehensive modernization ever undertaken by the Navy, becoming the largest and most modern carrier in her class.” After a month of at-sea training aboard the USS Coral Sea, and Midway sea trials successfully completed, they deployed to combat operations in Southeast Asia off Vietnam. Wayne was proud of his Plank Owner Certificate and loved the Midway which was reflected repeatedly in his performance evaluations: “outstanding performance of duty”, “knowledge of the systems unmatched by anyone on the ship”, “commitment to excellence” as well as Achievement Medals and Citations.

Wayne was “highly recommended for advancement” upon reenlistment but regrettably chose concurrent transfer to Naval Reserve and Honorable Discharge to return home where he owned and operated Lolley’s Inc. Custom Truck and Trailer Repair until retirement.

As Wayne’s health declined he loved to laugh and reminisce about his and best buddy, Gil’s, youthful annual fishing adventures to Pierce Pond and the fun times spent at camp on Flagstaff Lake with their families.

Wayne’s favorite place in the whole world was his 1889 home in Gray with his wife Kate. Over the 26 wonderful years they had together, they tackled many a restoration project and thoroughly enjoyed maintaining their home, grounds and gardens. Although not a social butterfly, Wayne loved when friends and neighbors would drop in and pull up a rocking chair to visit on the porch where he spent many happy hours.

After years of tenacious resistance, Wayne leaves the love of his life, wife Kathleen Terison Lolley; daughters Corrine and Carol Lolley, and Melanie Voisine; granddaughters Peregrine, Lauren and Brooklyn; brothers James and Richard Lolley; nephew James Lolley II; and uncle, Linwood Bailey.

In lieu of an immediate service, Wayne’s life will be celebrated this summer in the place he was happiest, at the home he has loved and lived in for 63 years.