When Louie Storey said he would clean your clock, he meant that literally, not figuratively.
And if it wasn’t working, he could fix it as well.
As a longtime member of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Storey took satisfaction in repairing or reconstructing old clocks, and also putting together new ones.
He had a hand in the restoration of the clock in the tower of the Gwinnett County Courthouse and took part in its annual maintenance. And he built three grandfather clocks from scratch, the clockworks as well as the wooden frames, for his own home and those of his daughter and his son.
Bernie Tekippe, owner of Classic Clocks and former president of the clock collectors group, said Storey was an upbeat participant in its Monday night meetings for years, learning the intricacies of clockmaking and engaging in hands-on projects.
Louie Watson Storey, 92, of Tucker died Thursday at Embracing Hospice Care in Snellville of complications following a stroke. His memorial service is 11 a.m. Monday at Bill Head Funeral Home, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel.
His son, Martin Storey of Greenville, S.C., said Storey was confident he could do just about anything as long as he could read clear instructions — whether it was clockmaking, woodworking, auto repair, gardening or cooking.
Storey began woodworking in school, Atlanta’s Commercial High. “Dad didn’t have tools at home,” his son said, “so he often went back to school at night to work on his projects.”
Years later, when Storey lived in the Kirkwood neighborhood, he spent a year digging out a crawl space beneath his house. “Dad did that so he could have a small shop for himself, one where he could stand and do woodworking,” his son said.
In 1960 Storey and his family moved to East Lake to a house with a full basement, part of which he turned into his shop. There, he made all the cabinets for a fully remodeled kitchen and the mantel for the living room fireplace.
“Until we moved to Tucker in the late 1970s, Dad worked almost exclusively with hand tools. He started acquiring sophisticated power tools thereafter, but he still enjoyed working with hand tools. Using them, he developed quite a powerful grip.”
Storey served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, mostly in San Diego, Calif., in the Quartermaster Corps. He rose to the rank of master sergeant before discharge.
Returning to Atlanta, he worked for 20-plus years as financial controller for Boykin Tool & Supply Co. in downtown Atlanta and another 14 years as controller for the Brainard-Kilman Drill Co. in Tucker.
In between those jobs, Storey was treasurer from 1967 to1975 of the Southeastern Fair and Exposition Association at Lakewood Park. In that capacity, he worked closely with former Atlanta Mayor William Hartsfield, who headed the association. Martin Storey said his father considered those years the happiest of his career. He especially enjoyed traveling with Hartsfield on business and listening to the former mayor’s colorful stories about the Atlanta of yesteryear, his son said.
Survivors also include his wife, Dorothy Storey; a daughter, Nancy Barrett of Lawrenceville; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
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