Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKPORT - Judith P. Willey, 72, died following surgery at Maine Medical Center in Portland Friday, May 20, 2016.
Born October 30, 1943 in Huntington, West Virginia, she was the daughter of James S. and Mary Hite Phillips. She grew up in Charleston, WV and Ohio, eventually attending Hanna Moore Academy in Maryland for high school and Garland Junior College in Boston, MA, where she earned a degree in Art. She moved to Mid-Coast Maine in 1974 and loved it so much she never wanted to leave. She worked as a bookkeeper or payroll clerk at several local businesses including F.J. O’Hara & Sons, The Camden Herald, Yankee Books, and FMC.

She married the love of her life, Harold G Willey in December 1981. Harold passed away in September of 2015. She was a longstanding member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockland where she served in numerous ways over the years including as a vestry member and founding member of the soup kitchen.
Judith retired in 2006 and spent her time writing poetry, reviving her love of art, and spending time with family, both real and many ‘adopted’ family members.

She is survived by her daughter Rebecca Dorobis and her husband Paul of Rockport; son James Scott Withee and his wife Joan of Martinsburg, WV; grandchildren, Katherine Patten, Allison Dorobis, of Rockport, James S. Withee II, Anna Elizabeth Moricle, Timothy B. Troup of West Virginia; great-grandchildren, Lillian, Trinity, Cheyenne, Natalie, Trey, Ethan; step-granddaughter Elsa Steffanson and her husband Shawn Hansen of Phoenix, AZ; and numerous other step relations.

A celebration of her life will be held at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockland, Friday, June 3rd at 2:00 PM. The Reverend Lael Sorenson will officiate. A private interment will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery, Islesboro.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.