WESTBROOK — William Emery Whitney, 85, formerly of Union, passed away on Aug. 26, 2016, at Seaside Rehabilitation in Portland after a brief illness. Born in Rockport on July 14, 1931, he was the son of James M. and Elsie (Manning) Whitney.

Bill worked for several years at the Knox Woolen Mill in Camden then spent the better part of his life working with horses. He was known primarily as a farrier, but he also bred, raised and showed buckskin quarter horses throughout New England.

He was a member of the Odd Fellows, Tri-County Horsemen, American Quarter Horse Association and a former volunteer of the Camden Fire Department.

On June 18, 1977, he married Nancy H. Wiley. Nancy and Bill lived in Arizona for a while and then moved back to Maine and established the Blue Gate Farm in Union. After retiring from the horse business they moved to the Boston area for several years, where they worked in the family business, The Davison Showroom, at the Boston Design Center.

In 2009 following the death of Nancy, Bill moved to Westbrook to be near his family.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Whitney in 2007; his brothers, Ernest, Ralph and Richard Whitney; and his sisters, Mary Halverson and Lillian Lewis.

Surviving are his children, Judith A. Whitney of South Portland, Susan L. Schombert (Jeffrey) of Tucson, Ariz., and William C. Whitney (Penny) of Belfast; his stepchildren, David Wiley, and G. Scott Wiley (Joanne), all of Scarborough, F. Allen Wiley (Patricia) of Florida, and Karen E. Lovejoy (Douglas) of Medford, Mass.; one brother, James Whitney of Topsham; his grandchildren, Duane Wright, Chantell Hendrix, Tonia Davenport (Robert), Heather McAtee (Wayne), Sara Boody (Brian), Jessica Meehan (Kyle), Laura Stickney (Justin), Katie Conley, Sam McLain, Robyn Wiley, Jonathan Wiley, Max Wiley and Hannah Wiley; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his first wife and the mother of their children, Betty Whitney of Hope; a brother-in-law, Paul S. Hurlburt (Pat); a sister-in-law, Sally C. Hurlburt; and dear family friend, Beth Carver.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Camden, with the Rev. Linda Campbell-Marshall officiating. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony at 67 Appleton Road in Union.

Memorial gifts may be made to Maine State Society for Protected Animals, P.O. Box 10, South Windham, ME 04082-0010 or to Hearts & Horses Farm LLC, 63 Justin Merrill Road, Buxton, ME 04093.