MARY LEE ACKERT

1933 - 2013

MARY LEE ACKERT

April 12, 2013

Mary Lee (Scranton) Ackert, 79, an award-winning local artist, passed away on Friday, April 12 in the loving presence of her family.

She leaves her husband of 57 years, Robert P. Ackert, Sr. of Fort Myers Beach, sister Jo Ann Main of North Carolina, son Robert P. Ackert, Jr. and wife Ruby Ackert-Herzig of Falmouth, Massachusetts, daughter Lindsay Chandler and husband Geoffrey Chandler of Waterville, Vermont and four grandchildren Stephen Chandler, Martin Chandler, Freeland Ackert and Adele Ackert. Extended family members include Philip & Rita Ackert, Alison Ackert-Smith and children, Lauren Ackert, Mark & Susanne Hankins, and Carol Hankins and children. Lee was pre-deceased by her siblings, Walter L. Scranton, Jr., J. Lynn Scranton and Billie Dawn Hankins.

Lee was born in Poughkeepsie, New York to the Rev. Walter L. and Fannie Scranton. She grew up in White Plains, New York, spending many summers at the family's rustic house in the Catskills. She studied Interior Design at Syracuse University where she met her future husband who was studying at Cornell. They were married in White Plains, New York on August 13, 1955 during Hurricane Agnes. Lee later received a Masters in Education from Tufts. She was an elementary art teacher in Billerica, Massachusetts for many years. Lee and Bob moved to Florida in 1978 where she became involved with the Fort Myers Beach Art Association as a teacher and president. Lee was a signature member and past president of the Florida Watercolor Society.

Lee loved the outdoors and lived life enthusiastically. She enjoyed skiing, water-skiing and sailing with her family and took up scuba diving in her mid-forties. Bob and Lee summered in Vermont, "relaxing" by the lake with the family at their summer cottage at Basin Harbor. She was always willing to lend a hand in the latest family project whether it was re-roofing a house, caring for a new grandchild or bringing in the hay on her children's farms. Lee and Bob's world travels included Europe, Australia, New Zealand and a cruise through the Panama Canal. Wherever they went, Lee brought her sketchbook and many of their trips were highlighted in her paintings.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. April 16 at the Beach United Methodist Church, Fort Myers Beach with a reception to follow at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to: Lee Ackert Memorial Fund, Fort Myers Beach Art Association, P. O. Box 2359, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932-2359.