Obituary of Commissioner William "Bill" Shorey

It is with deep sorrow and profound respect that we announce the passing of Commissioner William “Bill” Shorey who died in his home surrounded by his loving wife, Jean, daughter Wendy and son Craig on December 12, 2024, at the age of 84. Born in Winterport, Maine, to Hershel Shorey and Kathryn (Crowley) Shorey on December 11, 1940, Bill dedicated much of his adult life to public service and was a beloved figure in the community. Bill served his community with an unmatched passion, integrity, and deep sense of duty.

 

Bill spent his early formative years growing up in the town of Monroe with his four siblings: Neil, Nancy, Carol, and Scott. The family lived on a farm, and it was in these early years working in the garden and on the farm that Bill first practiced his strong work ethic. Early educational years were spent at a one room schoolhouse in North Monroe. All eight grades were taught in this one tiny room. The school had a period in the fall where it was closed so the students could assist with the potato harvest. At the wee age of ten years old Bill worked picking potatoes on a farm in Newport during this fall harvest. Back in the day the pickers would follow three to four rows behind the potato digger. Your assigned rows from the field boss were dependent upon how well you kept up with the potato digger. With his eager work ethic, Bill diligently kept pace with the digger. One day the field boss remarked to him, “You’re not going to make any money picking potatoes.” Young Bill was confused and said, “I am working hard, and I’ll make some money.” The field boss clarified the importance of leaving the small potatoes in the ground to continue growing. Bill never forgot that lesson. Years later in his personal and professional life Bill would share this message with others. Life is too short, so you need to not worry about the small potatoes. In life, Bill honed his ability to separate the important issues from the less important issues and did not let the “small potatoes” of life distract him from those things that were most important.

 

Bill divided his high school years between Monroe High school and Morse Memorial High school in Brooks. The impetus for the transition to Morse was the opportunity to take agricultural courses at the larger Morse school. Time spent studying was complemented by participation on the basketball and baseball teams. With basketball shots that were often “all net”, he was given the nickname “Swish Shorey”. After his graduation from Morse High School in 1959, Bill’s vocational path predominantly focused on the sales industry.

 

Bill began his adult work career by briefly working for a construction business that installed piping and heating systems in chicken barns. It was here that Bill caught the eye of Howard Brembeck, founder of Chore-Time Equipment, a company that developed innovative equipment for the care of poultry and livestock. Throughout the early 1970’s Bill worked for Chore-Time Equipment. With his excellent work ethic, he was one of their top sales representatives and earned the honor of traveling with his wife, Jean, on several company sponsored retreats to a variety of fun destinations.

 

In the late 1970’s Bill capitalized on these experiences in the poultry industry and founded Quality Poultry Equipment, a company that handled distribution and installation of poultry equipment and heating systems. In this business venture, Bill often worked collaboratively alongside Bob Miles, the owner of a company that built chicken houses.

 

With the progressive decline of the poultry industry in Maine in the early 1980’s, Bill once again applied his innovative thinking and founded Waste Resources Incorporated. This company was focused on exploring different energy saving technologies to burn recycled waste products from other industries. The company eventually shifted its focus to how to refine the process of preheating oil to save energy in large commercial oil boilers. Others were already experimenting with this type of technology, but Bill successfully refined the process and began marketing the Shor-Burn Pre-heater under the umbrella of a rebranded company that he called Shor-Burn Equipment. Bill would continue this work as the President of Shor-Burn Equipment through his early sixties; often collaborating with many other companies, the biggest of which was Honeywell International Inc. At the time, Honeywell was also targeting energy savings measures.

 

While working in the private sector, Bill served the community of Searsport in a variety of roles. In the early 1970’s he served terms on the Town Planning Board and the Town Appeals Board. He also served four years on the MSAD 56 school board, two of which he served as chairman. From 1993 through the time of his passing he served on the Searsport Water District Board of Trustees with all but two of those years as chairman. From the years of 1968 to 2004, Bill was also a member of the Searsport Lions Club. Bill served in primary leadership positions in the local club for many years. The club’s mission had been to conduct fundraising to benefit those in need, such as persons who were hearing impaired, visually impaired and families who had a life changing event. His position in the Lions Club was the vehicle through which Bill went above and beyond in his service to others. He personally organized, cooked for, and worked at countless fundraising dinners to benefit his fellow neighbors of Waldo County. For example, in the Ice Storm of 1998, Bill spent two days cooking to prepare free meals for families who had lost their power. Regardless of the cause, the citizens of Waldo County could count on Bill bringing a freshly cooked batch of his baked beans and a roaster sized pan of homemade chop suey.  After an extensive history of exemplary service at the local club level, Bill was elected to the Vice-District Governor position for Maine District 41-I. He then was elected as the District Governor for Maine Lions District 41-I for a term that ran from 1995-1996. Bill’s final leadership steppingstone was his election to the Council Chairman position for Multiple District 41 from 1996-1997 where he was responsible for providing oversight to all the District Governors who presided over all of Maine and parts of Canada. His highest office achieved was Council Chairman. He opted not to attempt to advance to any further leadership opportunities in Lions International as he preferred to return to devote his time and energy at the local level serving the citizens of Waldo County.

 

Years of community service that masterfully blended the personal characteristics of compassion and generosity with a diplomatic leadership style did not go unnoticed. In 2008, the Searsport town fathers approached Bill as there was a need to have a person with Bill’s strengths to serve as one of the three elected County Commissioners.  Elected in November of 2008 and beginning his first term in 2009, Bill would begin a fifteen-year service role as County Commissioner for the county of Waldo. As part of this role as the County Commissioner, Bill joined forces with Sheriff Scott Story in 2010 to develop, manage, and grow the Waldo County Garden Project. This project is affiliated with the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center in Swanville. The Garden serves the dual purpose of providing a vocational opportunity for the clients at the Reentry Center in addition to supplying large quantities of fresh produce to local food cupboards and soup kitchens throughout Waldo County. Many of the clients would be the first to say that Bill treated them all like “one of the guys” and had worked right alongside them planting, weeding, and harvesting food for those in need. Reducing food insecurity had deep roots dating back to Bill’s childhood on the farm in Monroe, where he recently said to his immediate family that as a young boy the family “did not have much, but there was always food on the table”. The majority of Bill’s time as County Commissioner he held the position of chairman and utilized his diplomatic leadership skills to maintain a strong budget for the county and facilitate multiple negotiation meetings for the county departments. Bill’s final term as county Commissioner was due to expire in December of 2024. Throughout some recent health challenges Bill worked hard to reach the end of his responsibilities for the citizens of Waldo County. Much like an election ballot, he recently told his family that his life had “checked all the boxes.”

 

Amidst his busy career and volunteer activities Bill had several favorite hobbies that he enjoyed with his family. From a very young age he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Bill was a devoted grandfather and took all his grandsons on special fishing adventures. Bill and his wife, Jean, took their beloved granddaughter Jillian Shorey down to the elephant sanctuary in Hope in lieu of a fishing expedition. Later in life, time spent with his friends at the hunting camp might have involved more time enjoying each other’s company in the camp, rather than hunting in the woods. In their retirement years Bill and his wife, Jean, enjoyed frequent rounds of golf at the local golf courses.

 

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years Jean; two loving children: Wendy Shorey Flannery and Craig (Kristen) Shorey; five beloved grandchildren: Alex (Kaleigh) Flannery, Zachary (Hollie Morneault) Flannery, Owen Flannery, Jillian Shorey and Ryan Shorey; great grandson Luke Flannery; sisters Nancy (Dale) Richardson and Carol (John) Dean; in addition to several nephews and a niece. Bill was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Neil and Scott.

 

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 1-4pm at Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast, Maine. A private celebration of life is planned. Interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery during the summer of 2025.

 

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude and appreciation to Bill’s long-time physician and friend, Dr. Jim Delehanty of Belfast, and the staff of Beacon Hospice for their compassionate care to Bill and the immediate family during Bill’s final days.

 

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation of your time, money, or canned goods to a local food cupboard or soup kitchen in honor of Bill’s lifelong work to provide for people in need.

 

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com