Harold F. Lively

Harold Francis Lively, 92, of Bernardston, Massachusetts passed away on Sunday, May 15th at home.   “Hal” was born in February 1930 to Walter Alfred and Alexina Lucy Galipo Lively.  He graduated from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls, MA.

Harold served in the US Army Signal Corps during the Korean War.  He was honorably discharged in 1953.   

Upon returning from service to his country, he met Beverly Ruth Keller and they married in 1955.   Their faith in God bonded them together and they raised 4 children during their 52 year marriage.  He was  active in the Catholic church serving on church council, choir and Eucharistic ministry.  Hal’s life was dedicated to sharing the love of God to everyone.   If he could get someone to smile, he knew that he was doing God’s work.  Hal and Beverly were involved in Worldwide Marriage Encounter and Teen Encounter ministries in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  They touched many lives and made many lifelong friendships.   They were Good Sam members for many years and loved travelling to visit family and friends.

After Beverly’s passing in 2007, Hal was blessed once again when he met a very special kind and loving woman, Paula LeKites.  He married Paula in 2008 and together they continued Hal’s mission to change the world, one smile at a time.   With Paula’s encouragement and support, Hal joined the singing group The Romeos.   The Romeos travelled the area sharing their love of music with old and young alike. 

Hal was a life-long hard worker on farms, stores, odd jobs, refinishing furniture and even building a home for his family. Whatever anyone neede …he was there. He worked for the Bell System retiring from New England Telephone in 1985.  He joined the Telephone Pioneers and helped create many devices that helped disabled children play sports and more easily communicate. Hal loved to sew and made quilts for his many grand and great-grandchildren.   During Covid, he began sewing surgical caps for Shriners Hospital and other facilities.   He was proud to contribute his talents to the crisis and bring joy to so many.

Hal is survived by his wife, Paula; sisters Lucille Joy and Marjorie (Roger) Ward, and sister-in-law in Joanne Keller, sons, James (Debra) Lively, Kenneth (Cheryl) Lively, Bart (Audrey) Lidsky; daughters, Theresa (John) Gamelin, Coreen Demers and Jennifer (John) Van Beckum;  grandchildren, James (Michele) Lively, Andrew (Amanda) Lively, Eric (Megan) Lively, Mark (Britta) Lively, Jeremy Peffer, Angela (Randy) Roberts, Kristina (Ben) Eddy, Melanie (Justin) Johnson, TJ Demers, Ben Demers, Taylor Lidsky, Emma Lidsky, Sarah Lidsky, Kate (Pete Koch) Howard, Sophie Howard, Tammy Wright, Ginger (Luke) Jones, Rachel Gamelin and Seth Gamelin, as well as 25 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

He is pre-deceased by his first wife, Beverly Lively, his brothers Alfred and Kenneth, brother-in-law Edward Keller and grandson, Thomas Brissette. 

Calling hours will be held at McCarthy Funeral home at 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA from 2pm-4pm on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Celebration of Life funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Peace Church,  90 7th Street in Turners Falls, MA at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022. Rites of committal will follow for the privacy family only, in the Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, MA with full military honors by the 54th MA ANG, assisted by the Hale-Clapp VFW Post #3295 of South Deerfield in attendance. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sunflower of Peace (www.sunflowerofpeace.com) or Shriners Hospital in Springfield (www.shrinerschildrens.org). 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harold F. Lively, please visit our floral store.