FARMINGTON – Edith Lucille Edwards McCleery, 86, of Farmington passed away at her home on Thursday, March 31, 2011, surrounded by her loving family, following a short battle with an aggressive form of thyroid cancer.
She was born Jan. 1, 1925 on the family farm on New Portland Hill, the sixth child of Albion K. P. and Sadie (Smith) Edwards. She attended the neighborhood red schoolhouse. In her Memoirs of New Portland Hill she detailed the first 13 years of her life. Following her father’s premature death, Edith and her mother moved to Farmington so Edith could attend Farmington High School. She graduated sixth in the Class of 1942.
Following graduation she worked as a secretary at Strong Wood Products.
On June 5, 1943, she married Robert Luce McCleery in Farmington and moved to the Wilton Road where she resided for the rest of her life. There they raised six children and she worked along side Robert and her family in the dairy and poultry business. For a few years they also grew beans and corn on interval land off the Whittier Road.
Edith was an avid gardener, and her garden was admired by many as they drove by “The Farm.” She will be remembered for providing numerous meals and sweets for those in need and for various community functions. She was also an enthusiastic Boston Celtics fan, rarely missing a televised game. But she will be most remembered as a devoted mother and grandmother, cherishing all family times and functions, and taking great pride in all of her family’s activities.
She served 21 years as office manager for the Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District. At her retirement in May of 1993, she was honored with the title “Queen of Conservation.”
Edith was a 71-year member of the Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, serving two terms on the diaconate and as chairwoman of the board of trustees. She also served as a Sunday school teacher and Vacation Bible School director. She is a member and past president of the Irene R. Luce Philathea class, and a former secretary and current treasurer of the American Baptist Women. She was a leader of the Happy Workers 4-H Club, a member of the Farmington Historical Society, and past president of the Farmington Area Alumni Association having served for many years as a member of the board of trustees. She served on the reunion committee for the Class of 1942.
She is past president of the Farmington Recognition Committee, past president of the West Farmington Literary Society, and former member of the Red Schoolhouse Extension and the Red Schoolhouse Sewing Circle. She was a strong advocate for relocating the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum from its location on the Wilton Road to the Franklin County Agricultural Society’s fairgrounds on High Street in Farmington, a move that was accomplished in 2006. She continued to be a supporter and advisor to the Red Schoolhouse Museum Committee through the remainder of her life. In recent years, she regularly attended Farmington Baptist Church.
As a member of Farmington Grange 12 for 72 years, she has held the office of master, lecturer, lady assistant Seward, Ceres and is the current chaplain. She was also a member of Maine State Grange and National Grange. Edith served as state junior deputy for Excelsior and New Century Pomonas for six years and with Robert led Grange installation teams. She went through the offices in Pomona with her husband and directed Pomona’s Court for the fifth degree for over 50 years. She has been master of the degree teams and has served on the Farmington Grange Exhibition Committee at the Farmington Fair for 70 years. For many years she organized and ran the Grange food booth in the Exhibition Hall at the fair. In later years she baked pies, cookies, dozens of donuts, and prepared soup, chowder and meals for sale at the booth.
She is survived by her children: Susan M. Small and her husband Bob of South Portland; Alton and his wife Cheryl of Farmington; Ruth McCleery Watson and her husband Bill of Fairfield, CT; David and his wife Susan of Woburn, MA; Louise of Farmington, and Jane E. M. Luce and her husband Bob of Carrabassett Valley, as well as 14 grandchildren: Rob and Steven; James, Bill and Tricia; Chris, Will, Lane and Heath; Erica, Emily, Erin, Elise and Noelle; and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years Robert L. McCleery; her brothers Marshall and his wife Evelyn Edwards, Winston and his wife Theona Edwards, and Merton and his wife Ida Edwards and her sisters Mildred and husband Archie Davis, and Alma Churchill.
Tributes and condolences may be shared with the family by accessing Mrs. McCleery’s tribute wall at www.wilesrc.com. A life tribute video will be available after the visitation on the site.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 9 at 11 a.m. at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments at the center. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, Friday from 4-7 p.m. Interment will be later in the spring at Riverside Cemetery in Farmington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Care and Share Food Closet, 508 Fairbanks Road, Farmington, ME 04938 or the Farmington Area Ecumenical Heating Assistance Program, PO Box 147, Farmington, ME 04938.
Edith–the original worker-bee…What lovely talents she had, what dedication to her community and family. We will miss her unique voice, her donuts at the fair booth and her steady work ethic.
I always looked for Edith in the exhibition hall during fair week because I knew she would know everything. She had a well deserved reputation for being able to somehow grow and display a beautiful array of what no one else could that year. I admired her greatly.
Ruth and all, please accept my sincere condolences. Old memories at your home and the reminders of good times. The loss is large, but the memories are infinite!
Dear Family, We find ourselves orphaned within a month of one another and so I deeply share your loss and pain. Your Mom and mine were childhood friends, since 1937 according to Edith’s keen memory. And a keen and bright person she was indeed. I regret that I didn’t have the opportunity for that last visit to thank her in person for the years of friendship between our family and yours and for the kind sympathies she expressed at my mother’s passing. Please allow me, on behalf of Betty and the entire Mitchell family, to tell you how sorry we are for your loss and what a wonderful addition to our community both your parents were. With Deepest Sympathies, Jeff
McCleery Family,
Please accept my condolences. Your mom was a special lady. Her generous manner and kind ways will be remembered by the many organizations and folks that she helped. My thoughts are with you during this sad time. She will be remembered and missed by many people for a very long time. May your memories bring you comfort.
Sincerely,
Joyce
My condolences
Edith, like husband Bob, was a major influence on the Town of Farmington, the Baptist Church, the Grange, and the Agricultural Society, to name a few. She was a good person, and just a delight to talk with. Sincere thoughts go out to the family. She certainly will be missed by many segments of this community.
I remember first meeting Edith and Sue at a 4-H Dairy Club meeting in May of 1954. Years later, I saw her hard work and dedication after the April 1, 1987 flood. As office manager of the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District she worked tirelessly to assist many farmers and towns with help repairing flood damage. For many years, I would go to her to purchase my Blue Hubbard squash for Thanksgiving. Many times I’ve quoted her saying, “Don’t pick the corn until the water is boiling”! Edith was always an Inspiration!
Colon