Obituary of Henry Casey Brightly

HENRY "Casey" BRIGHTLY III, 86 of Whitneyville, went on the grandest fishing trip when he passed away April 25, 2014 at Downeast Community Hospital in Machias after a brief illness. Born December 5, 1927 in Pennsauken, NJ, the son of Edna Mabel (Kirk) and Henry W. Brightly Sr, Henry "Casey" was raised in Camden, New Jersey where he attended school. While growing up he spent many summers on the shore in Atlantic City and at the infamous Steel Pier with his family. At the age of 16 he left high school to work for his father in the family business of construction. Henry and his father worked all over southern New Jersey doing construction work and building houses. Henry also worked in construction for Martin Price in southern New Jersey trimming out houses with childhood friend Roll Whittendale. In Hackettstown, New Jersey, Henry helped construct the Golden Skillet Restaurant/takeout. At the age of 18, Henry was drafted into the Army and after boot camp, he was stationed on Adak Island in Alaska towards the end of WWII where he served two years. After being discharged from the Army, Henry went back to construction work with his father and worked in the construction field for over 50 years either building houses or doing simple construction. In 1965 Henry married Gertrude Schmid and moved to Hackettstown, New Jersey where they lived for 12 years before moving to Whitneyville, Maine. Henry was an avid hunter and fisherman and had a great love for the outdoors. Henry's love for hunting began at the age of 10 when he got his first rifle from his father. Henry loved not only bird hunting but also deer hunting where he also hunted with a bow and arrow. Henry was an avid fly fisherman and always looked forward to April 1st of fishing season. In Henry's life he fished upstate New York, New Jersey, Canada and Maine. Henry also loved flounder fishing with his parents in Somers Point, New Jersey. Henry loved to bass fish and hunt with long-time friends Jimmy Cherry, Joe Robbins, John Parker, Burton Smith, Judd Bragg, Steve Pineo, Bruce and Harold Mitchell. Henry was also an advocate for the return of the Atlantic salmon. In 1983 Henry placed third in the Maine Skull and Antler Club. Henry's other great love was sports and the New York Yankees. If he wasn't fishing or hunting, he was either watching boxing or baseball. Even when Henry moved to Maine his love for the New York Yankees never faded. While growing up in New Jersey, Henry had the privilege of meeting boxing great Joe Louis and singer Frank Sinatra. Henry was predeceased by his parents Henry and Edna Brightly, his wife of 39 years Gertrude Schmid Brightly, a son Henry Walter Brightly and his Aunt Mary Hanson, He leaves behind two daughters, Renee Brightly and Patricia Brightly of Whitneyville and their brother Helmut Schmid of Onancock, Virginia, a brother Edward Brightly and his family of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, a niece he loved dearly Gabrielle Day and her husband Terry of Mt. Holly New Jersey, their sons Eric Day of Florence Kentucky and Christopher Day of Hillsborough New Jersey who called him Uncle Casey; a sister-in-law Emma Spatharis of Mt. Holly New Jersey. Henry also leaves behind cherished friends Bruce Mitchell and his family and Harold Mitchell both of Salem New Jersey, Donald Kay of Hackettstown New Jersey, Donald Hornoff of Tuckerton New Jersey, Wayne Davis of Brewer, John Parker of Machias, Joe Robbins of East Machias, Billy Cherry of Machias, Timmy Maker of Machias, Sammy Dowling and Stephen Sullivan of Whitneyville and many other friends too numerous to mention. Henry also leaves behind two very special friends Jimmy Cherry of Machias and Burton Smith of Jonesboro. Services for Henry will be held 10 a.m. May 24, 2014 at the Whitneyville Congregational Church with Betty Duzen officiating . Friends are invited to gather after the service at the Hillgrove Community Center in Whitneyville. In lieu of flowers donations in Henry's name may be made to Whitneyville Public Library, 51 School Street, Whitneyville, ME 04654. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast.