Searsport - SEARSPORT - Edward Forrest Bagley, 91, respected church leader and family patriarch, passed away Sunday, May 26, 2013. He was born April 29, 1922, in Albion, the son of Clive Edward and Alice (Tozier) Bagley.

Educated in the Albion Schools, he graduated from Besse High School in 1939. Edward graduated from the University of Maine-Orono in 1943 with a B.S. degree in Agriculture. After helping his father on the family farm, he taught agriculture at Waldoboro High School and Unity High School. After the war, he taught Agriculture at night to veterans returning home. In 1952, he married Esper F. Mank, his wife for 54 years, and continued to work on the family farm as well as doing soil conservation work in Kennebec County. In 1956, he became 4-H club agent in Kennebec County for one year. Edward moved his young family to Searsport in 1957 and worked as the 4-H agent in Waldo County for seven years. He then went back into teaching elementary school in Lincolnville, Winterport and Liberty. In 1969 he began working retail at Freeze's Department Store in downtown Bangor and the Airport Mall. He and Esper also started teaching Adult Education in the Searsport School District. He retired in 1989. Edward was a member of Albion Grange, transferring to Granite Grange in Searsport for 75 years, holding office as well as Master in both granges. He belonged to East Kennebec Pomona Grange, Waldo Pomona Grange, Maine State Grange, and National Grange. He was a member of Central Lodge AF & AM No. 45 in China, Maine and Dunlap Chapter R.A.M. in China. He belonged to the Searsport Methodist Church for 55 years, serving on several committees, as well as trustee treasure for many years.

Edward was predeceased by his parents; wife, Esper Bagley; sister, Jean Bagley Porter of Mars Hill; and brother, Ronald Irving Bagley of Bowdoinham, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is survived by his sister, June Bagley Flye of Clinton; two daughters, Lynne and her husband, Bruce Duggan, of South Portland and Leanne and her husband, Edmund Marshall, of Belfast; three sons, Leigh and his wife, Sandra Bagley, Loren Bagley and Linda, of Searsport and Lon Bagley of Duluth, Minn.; six grandchildren, Amy and her husband, Tim Philbrook, Tony and his wife, Katie Bagley, Angela and her husband, Buddy Bosse, Megan and her husband, Nick Hills, all of Searsport, and Kaitlin and Carter Bagley of Duluth, Minn.; seven great-grandchildren, Matthew, Brooke, Drew and Bailey Bagley, Ryker Tower, Mitchell and Spencer Philbrook and Dutch Hills, all of Searsport; two stepgrandchildren, Cory and his wife, Kaitlyn Duggan, of Islesford, Jessica and her husband, Geoff Allen, of Buxton, and their son, Jacob.

Visitation hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 3 at Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Searsport United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Searsport United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 169, Searsport, ME 04974 or Searsport District High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 444, Searsport, ME 04974. A headstone will be placed in the family plot at Elmwood Cemetery, Searsport. mitchelltweedie-young.com