Ernest M. AlleyMay 11, 1928 - April 6, 2010Ernie Alley, 81, passed away Tuesday in his sleep at his home in Albany.Ernest Melvin Alley was born to Carl and Lena Falconer Alley in Vona, Colo.  He lived there until the age of 3 when he moved to Oregon with his mother and siblings.  The family moved again to Seattle, where Ernie attended Lincoln High School until 1945.  He then joined the U.S. Navy and earned his GED, serving aboard the USS Anderson, USS Sylvania, USS Badoeng Strait and USS Princeton as an electronics technical seaman.  He earned both a Good Conduct Award and WWII Victory Medal.   After moving to Albany, he met Loretta Bush at White Spires Presbyterian Church and they were married there Oct. 7, 1961.  Ernie lived and worked in Albany the rest of his life.  He worked for Coquille Plywood, playing on their basketball team.  He was employed in construction and was part of the crew that built the Green Peter and Foster Dams.    He then worked for VA McQueary Construction out of Salem. In 1975, he graduated from Chemeketa Community College with a degree in Civil Engineering.  Ernie then worked as a building inspector for the City of Salem, Linn County, City of Eugene, Benton County and retired from Oregon State University. A faithful attendee at Eastside Christian Church since 1978, Ernie served as a deacon and elder over the years.  He helped in the construction of the church's Chladek Hall.  Ernie also helped out the South Albany Rebels football team as a linesman in the early 1980s. During his retirement years, Ernie volunteered for St. Mary's Soup Kitchen and became known around town as "The Bread Man."  He also spent time at the Albany Senior Center, bringing n extra pastry from his Bread Man duties, putting together jigsaw puzzles and helping with the monthly newsletter mailing. Ernie is survived by his wife of 48 years, Loretta Alley; daughters Janna Alley and Cindy Alley; grandsons Jonathan Alley and Timothy Alley of Eugene; sister Carlena Fewkes of Ellensburg, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Carl Robert Alley; parents Carl Alley and Lena Jensen; sisters Genevieve Ellis, Kathleen Anderson, and Ina Chladek; and brother Phillip Jensen. A viewing will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home.  A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Eastside Christian Church. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association and/or St. Mary's Soup Kitchen.AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).