Joseph Kenneth Fairley

Joseph Kenneth Fairley, 90, of Keller, Texas and South Glens Falls, NY passed away suddenly Friday evening, June 14, 2024, supported by his loving family and following a courageous battle with a long-term illness.

Born on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 1933, in New York City, The Bronx, Joe was the fourth son of the late William and Agnes (Mellersten) Fairley of Kingston, NY.

Joe graduated from Vincentian Institute in Albany, NY. Following high school, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a Merchant Mariner, traveling the route from Houston to Africa aboard the SS Gaines Mill steam tanker where he was a Fireman and Watertender. For his career, Joe proudly worked for Niagara Mohawk Power Company (now National Grid) as an Electrical Planner retiring after 34 years.

As a testament to Joe’s hard work and skills, in his early adulthood he helped build two houses for his family, often had two jobs to support them, and was politically active. Joe was a little league sport coach, a great pinochle player, and later in life loved traveling with his friends and attending his grandchildren’s graduations. It warmed his heart to see everyone at the Fairley-Mellersten Family Reunions.

Joe was most proud of his children and grandchildren, always in awe of their accomplishments and what they were achieving in this world. He was also very happy to have been able to greet his first great-grandchild this year. Joe was a man of faith, a family man, caring, a great cook, loved to make breakfast, especially after proms, bowl, golf, always said what was on his mind, was duty-bound and blessed with lifelong friends and great caregivers. He loved Racino at Saratoga and Winstar in Oklahoma, the penny slots and valued his trips there with friends and family. He would review a home construction plan or give advice if you asked for it. Joe would do anything for his family.

He was married for 33 years to Marjorie (Penning), a South Glens Falls Junior High school teacher, who predeceased him. They were known for their fun-filled dinners, great hospitality, creative Christmas trees, and annual anniversary parties. He loved his summer trips to Iowa with Marge to “walk the corn and beans” and visit his Iowa family, nieces and grand-nieces, whose family pictures were always displayed on the refrigerator, along with his grandchildren’s pictures.

Joe was a loving father and grandfather and is survived by his three children, 10 grandchildren and first great-grandchild with his former wife, Carol (Breeyear) Rubino, Mary Jo (Chris) Polidore of Keller, TX and their four children and their families, Christina, Nicholas, Phillip (Amy) and great-grandson James Joseph (JJ), and Alexander (JiEun) Polidore; Carol Anne (John) Stiglmeier of Woodbury, CT and their two children, Fairleigh and Jack Stiglmeier; Joseph K. (Amy) Fairley Jr. of Fort Edward, NY and their four children, Joseph (Kara) III, Kelsey, Michael, and Meghan Fairley; many nieces and nephews; and his Iowa family step-nieces Audrey (Rodney) and Julie Marra Kracht, five grand-nieces and one grand-nephew.

Joe was a long-time parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in South Glens Falls, NY, his children went to school at St. Michael’s and the family contributed, and Joe and his former wife, Carol, and the children personally installed the flag pole which still stands in place outside the school today.

Friends may call from 4-6 pm on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 am on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 80 Saratoga Avenue, South Glens Falls NY 12803. Interment will be at a later date in the Fairley Family plot at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, NY.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the many wonderful friends and family who kept in touch with Joe all through the years – especially Darrell, Barb, John, Marge F and Judy; to his breakfast buddies Darrell, Ted and Bud who met him for coffee each morning at the South Glens Falls McDonalds. Thank you to his Iowa family for their special visits – Julie, Nikki, Amanda Kelsy, Audrey and Rod. We especially thank his Texas caregivers who brightened his last years, especially Felicia and Tameka; and the volunteers from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church who prayed with him and brought him Communion – Rachel and Katie.

Memorial donations may be made in Joe’s name to St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church Capital Campaign, 2016 Willis Lane, Keller, Texas, 76248, or to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 80 Saratoga Avenue, South Glens Falls, NY 12803, or to St. Peter’s Health Partners, 315 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208.

Visitation

Friday, June 21, 2024

4-6 pm

M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803.

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, June 22, 2024

10 am

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 80 Saratoga Avenue, South Glens Falls NY 12803