John L. Worley, Jr.

John Loran Worley, Jr. died at home in Lakeville at the age of 69 on June 20, 2016 due to complications of lymphoma. John was the child of John Loran Worley of Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Cecile Surprenant Worley of New Bedford. He was born on October 8, 1946 in Providence and raised in New Bedford. John attended Friends Academy elementary school and went on to graduate from Tabor Academy. He spent his summers working at his parent's restaurant, Worley's  Pavillion, at Red Rock Beach, and recalled memories of waking up to his mother making croque monsieurs for beachgoers. John enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves and was called to active duty while attending Roanoke College in Virginia. He completed two tours in Vietnam, one on the USS America which was one of the three Kitty Hawk class supercarriers, and a second on the USS Essex, during which he received the National Defense Service Medal. He graduated from Unniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth, then Southeastern Massachusetts University, with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He was Business Manager of the Torch, the school newspaper, and on the organization committee for Woods of Dartmouth, a famous weekend-long concert. John was on his way to completing an MBa from Boston College when he got a call from his father to step in and run the family business, Worleybeds Factory Outlet, which was founded in 1954. Worleybeds Factory Outlet, today located on Pope's Island, is the oldest family owned and operated mattress manufacturer in the United States. The business is now run by John's youngest son, Patrick Worley. John met Martha, his wife of 38 years, soon after taking over the family business. Martha held a position in advertising and had been hired to plan and run the openning of the new Worleybeds Factory Outlet store. They were married on June 24, 1978 at Sacred Heart Church in Fairhaven.. John was a boy Scout Troop Leader and enjoyed teaching the boys one of his life passions, water skiing, on Long Pond in Lakeville,where he designed and built their family home in 1986. John's other life passions include great food and wine, residential architectural design, snow skiing, and being an avid mariner. More than anything he loved being on the sea. He also loved his work and was known for his tremendous business skills and keen salesmanship. John never met a stranger, as he had an adventurous spirit and quick wit. Within the last few years of his life he enjoyed several voyages with his three children to his favorite spots on Martha's Vineyard and Cuttyhunk Island. He was also able to have the profound experience of walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding and holding all three of his grandchildren. John is survived by his sister Lorraine Anthony Landau and her partner Robert Purcell of Boynton Beach, Florida; his wife Martha Sibor Worley of Lakeville; his daughter Mary Catherine "Missy" Fraley and her husband Thomas Edward Fraley of Charleston, South Carolina; his son JohnWorley III and his partner Sarah Belanger of Lakeville, and their son, Wyatt Russell; his son PatrickWorley and his wife Faith, of South Dartmouth, and their two children, Lucas Vaughn and Clare Rose; and a chosen daughter, Rebecca Coons of New York City.

Services will be held on Friday, June 24, at the New Bedford WhalingMuseum at 18 Johnny Cake Hill. The family will receive quests at 10:00 am with a service at noon and reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Whaling Museum at www.whalingmuseum.org
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John L. Worley, Jr., please visit our floral store.