Frances L. Brackett

Frances L Brackett, 84 years old, a resident of Shapleigh, ME for 40 years, was born on August 29, 1923 in Sanford to Henry and Nellie Gillings Cofran, and died Monday, January 14, 2008 at the Newton Center in Sanford, ME.Frances attended Longfellow and Emerson schools. She graduated from Sanford High School in 1941. Frances worked in the cost department of the Sanford Goodall Mills, the Sanford & eastern Railroad, the Sanford Trust Company, and for the John Hancock Insurance Company, from which she retired.Frances was widowed in 1955 after six years of marriage to Edgar Cole of Portland. Frances remarried, and was later widowed in 2002 after 45 years of marriage to Melvin S. Brackett.Additionally, her parents and her brother Willie Cofran predecease Frances.Frances is survived by her brother Norman (Ethel) Cofran of Winston Salem, NC, Melvin's daughters Stella B. Andrews of Portland, ME, and Ellen B. Leaf D.D.S. of San Mateo, CA. She leaves two grandchildren, Lisa (Mark) Nichols of North Waterboro and Douglas Simpson of Portland, ME. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren. Mark deserves many thanks for all the assistance, caring and time that he has devoted to Frances over the past few months.After retirement Frances was active in the 55 plus, AARP, and the Red Hat Society. Frances has been a lifelong member of the Crossroads United Methodist Church of Sanford. She was a frequent visitor to all the nursing and retirement homes in the Sanford-Springvale area. She was attentive to many elderly and lonely people and tried to brighten their lives by giving them special treats at all of the holidays and especially the sharing of her time which expressed the inherent value of these people.A period of visitation will be held this Thursday, January 17, 2008 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale, ME; where funeral services will be conducted following visitation at 12:00 PM. Burial will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery in South Waterboro in the Spring of 2008. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donations be made to the Crossroads United Methodist Church, PO box 290, Springvale, ME 04083, or the charity of one's choice. To leave the family a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.