Frances Porter

PATTEN - Frances (Hurlbert) Porter, 76, died April 19, 2011, surrounded by her loving family in Patten, after a long illness. She was born April 14, 1935, in Bangor, daughter of Hugh and Frances Hurlbert. She was the oldest of 11 children. Frances lived most of her life in Patten and graduated from Patten Academy. She met and married Wesley Porter Jr. and raised five children. She loved spending time with her family and many friends in Patten, including a special friend, Jean Tarr, picking berries, and making delicious jams and jellies. She was a good cook and made a wonderful mincemeat pie. Frances also enjoyed reading, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and yard sales. She enjoyed several trips to Florida, Las Vegas and many visits to family in Connecticut. She was a hard worker and had various jobs including working many years at Mountain Heights Health Care Facility. She was instrumental in starting Green Valley Association, and was a member of United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star and Patten TOPS club. Frances was a devoted and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She is survived by five children, Rae Lamoreau and her husband, Cole, of Easton, Vanessa Shirland and her husband, Bruce, of Old Town, Elaine Pipes of Patten, Steven Porter of Easton, and Leslie Porter of Patten; two special grandchildren, Eric Pipes and his wife, Crystal, of Patten, and Andrea Pipes and her fiance, Jamie Kaelin, of Mount Chase; two great-grandsons, Wesley and Wyatt Pipes; six brothers, Tom, Neal, David, Fred, Charles and Harold; one dear sister, Amber; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband of 52 years; two brothers, Bill and Bob; and a sister, Katherine. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Bowers Funeral Home, 54 Sherman St., Island Falls, where OES services will begin 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten. Spring interment will be held at a later date at Patten Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to Veterans Memorial Library, P.O. Box 260, Patten, ME 04765 or Mountain Heights Health Care Facility Activities Fund, 83 Houlton Road, Patten, ME 04765. For an online memory book and to leave condolences, please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.