CAMDEN — Roy Francis Gilley, III, 80, of Camden, died on October 22, 2024 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Born in Hartford, Connecticut on August 29, 1944, he was the son of Roy F. Gilley Jr. and Priscilla (Groff) Gilley; and was the grandson of Roy F. Gilley Sr and Mary Dodge Gilley of Simonton Corner, Rockport.  

Roy grew up in Connecticut spending every summer from the age of 9 months with his grandparents at Simonton Corner, Rockport.  After graduating from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with a BFA, he took architecture at University of Connecticut and University of Maryland. Roy moved to Maryland in 1971 where he received his architecture license in 1976 in the District of Columbia. Also licensed in seven other states over his career, Roy moved back to Connecticut in 1979 continuing his tradition of spending summers in Simonton Corner.

In 1982, he partnered with Paul Hinkel and started Gilley Hinkel Associates in Bristol, Connecticut, later opened his own firm, Gilley Design Associates in Bristol.  His other employment included the State of Connecticut consulting on architectural projects. He was a proud member of the American Institute of Architects. Roy was very interested and participated in historical preservation including the preservation of the Glebe House Museum and Gardens in Woodbury, Connecticut among many other projects that were dear to his heart. Roy was unwilling to retire because he loved his work. He found his comfort zone by practicing part time until he retired in 2019 and moved to Ragged Mountain where he emersed himself in remodeling his new home, reading stacks of books and walking his Border Collies.  

Roy also spent much time visiting grandchildren and becoming a foster parent for his grandson, Josh. Always an Episcopalian, he served as a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church in Camden. Loving antiques, he periodically was an antiques dealer and served several positions at the local and state level in the Power Squadron. Other interests included genealogy, collecting and reading books, trains (models and real), boating, kayaking, fishing, carpentry, gardening, volleyball, softball, baseball and touring Maine lighthouses and historical forts.  

On August 20, 1988, he married Janis Jostrom in Litchfield, Connecticut. 

In 2010, Roy and Jan moved from Middlebury, Connecticut to Camden.  

Surviving is his wife, Janis Gilley of Camden; children, Elizabeth G. Sanderson of Rockport, Amy Gilley of Wilmington, Delaware, Hilary Shea of Boston, Massachusetts, Kristina Shea of Zurich, Switzerland, Cara Cheng of New Jersey, Alison Shea of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, Jack Shea of California; two sisters, Judith of Charlottesville, Virginia and Constance Torre of Bangor; four grandchildren, Nicholas Sanderson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Skye Sanderson of Rockport, Elizabeth Shea of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, Joshua Shea of Moncton, New Brunswick; four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 2 p.m., at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, 33 Chestnut Street with Father Paul Briggs officiating. Zoom link will be available by contacting the church.

If desired, memorial gifts may be made to the Episcopal Relief and Development P.O. Box 3006, Harlan, Iowa 51593-0024 or Glen Highland Farm at www.glenhighland.com.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.