William J. Parmelee Sr.
William John Parmelee Sr., 71, of Sweden, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at his home with his wife by his side.
Bill was born May 6, 1951, in Yonkers, N.Y., to Charles Walter Sr. and Frances (Kelley) Parmelee. As a child “Billy” and his family enjoyed summer vacations
in upstate New York on Lake Champlain where his love of the outdoors began. As a young man, Bill worked at Otis Elevator Co., and helped to build the elevations
for the Twin Towers. He also worked at Consolidated Edison in the motor pool, honing his love of race cars and his skills as a mechanic.
After living in New York and Connecticut, he moved to Maine where he started his own excavation business but soon discovered his love for long-line fishing and purchased his own vessel, the Jarvis Bay. Later, Bill began Mobile Auto Repair, which he ran successfully until his retirement.
Bill enjoyed all things outdoors: hunting, fishing and target shooting. He loved motorcycles rides, spending time with his family, and was the founder and common winner of Turkey Soup Sunday, a family tradition following Thanksgiving. He was an amazing cook and those that didn’t think so could “eat around it.” He loved his children endlessly and became the best Pampa any grandchild was lucky to have. Bill never met a stranger and he enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and telling stories of his adventures. He was the oldest living Parmelee/Kelley and was proud of that title. He would often say he was at peace with the thought of death because he had lived an incredible life.
Bill was predeceased by his brothers Charles Jr. and Kevin, and his parents.
William is survived by his wife Margaret (Gibney) Parmelee, and his children, Frances Parmelee, William Parmelee Jr., Jeffrey Parmelee and wife Renee, Katherine (Parmelee) Saucier and husband Blake, Nathan Sessions and wife Pamela, Adam Gibney and wife Courtney and Megan Gibney. Also his grandchildren A’nyah McCain, Alexandra Parmelee, Jeffrey Parmelee, Christopher Evans, Ryan Sessions and Alex Sessions.
He has been reunited with his family in Heaven and his favorite furry friend, Bella.
Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to the American Diabetes Foundation or the Epilepsy Foundation.