Edward J. Markey

He was born in Manchester December 25, 1934 to Martin and Mary (McAndrew) Markey. Edward was a 1954 graduate of Bishop Bradley High School. He was selected to participate in the inaugural Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Football Game. In 2004 he was inducted into the Manchester Catholic High Schools Hall of Fame. Following graduation he served in the United States Army. He was employed at the Manchester Gas Company for 38 years and in later years was a court officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Department.

Edward was a member of the Henry J. Sweeney American Legion, Post #2, where for a period he proudly served as chaplain. The Rev. William Shanahan, Division 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Knights of Columbus Council #92, the Elks, the St. Joseph Society, the Hibernian Pipes and Drums and was a member of the Legion of a Thousand Men of the Monastery of the Precious Blood. He held firm his sense of being American-Irish.

Family, Faith, Country, and Friendship are what mattered most to him. Loyalty was his standard. For him, it was not loyalty to an oath but from the heart that bound. His loyalty knew not a name nor did it ever have a winner or loser. Based on a shared devotion and conviction it guided his feelings, deeds and love. When you had his loyalty, you had Edward's strength and heart, without question or hesitation. He will be missed.

IN HIS LIFE: Family includes three daughters, Sheila Cragg of Hampton, Melissa Tower of Manchester, Maryann Markey of Newton, MA; a son, Sean Markey of Manchester; 6 grandchildren, Sam Tower, Lily, Duncan and Grace Cragg, Mairead and Maeve Markey; a sister, Sister Monica Markey, RSM, of Dover; a brother, John Markey of Hartford, CT., several nieces, nephews and cousins. Cherished also was the special time he shared with Pamela Gorman of Bedford.

He was predeceased by a brother, Martin Markey, in 1977 and two sisters: Sister Macrina Markey, RSM, in 1999 and Mary Markey in 2003. His former wife, Rosemary (Hughes) Markey passed in 1997.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at St. Hedwig parish, corner of Beech and Orange streets.

Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery, Donald St. Bedford.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Rd., Windham, NH, 03087