NEWPORT and MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Luella Alberta Farnham, 93, a school teacher, funeral director, and a homemaker died Nov. 3, 2005, at Ahoskie, N.C., after a brief illness. She was born June 10, 1912, in Bangor, the daughter of William R. and Alwilda C. (Rich) Hart. She attended local schools and graduated from Farmington State Teachers College, Farmington in 1931. She taught all eight grades of elementary school in Penobscot. She married John F. Farnham in 1932 and he predeceased her in 1999. She and her husband owned and operated funeral homes in Stetson, and then in Newport and Corinna, until 1971. She was the first woman to be licensed as a funeral director in the state of Maine. She supported her husband in their business and during his long tour as the state inspector of funeral service for the state of Maine. They were married for 68 years. She was a member of the Peoples United Methodist Church in Newport. She was a member and past president of the Newport Woman’s and the Methodist Weslyan Club. She was a past worthy matron and chaplain for 42 years of the Nokomis Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in Newport, a member of the Rebecca’s, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She and her husband “Johnny” enjoyed “combining business and pleasure” while traveling about the state of Maine and elsewhere in their recreational vehicles. They especially liked their trips “Down-East.” After the death of her husband she moved out of the state of Maine for the first time and purchased a home in Murfreesboro, N.C., to be near her son and daughter-in-law. She joined the Murfreesboro Methodist Church and was active with the “Keenagers” group. Her final years were enjoyed at the Village at Woods Edge in Franklin, Va. She is survived by a son, David W. Farnham and his wife, Carole H. Farnham, of Murfreesboro, N.C.; a nephew, Steven Colburn and his wife, Lisa, of Orono; two nieces, Rona Hughey Leighton and her husband, William, of Chalfont, Pa. and Sylvia Hughey Daniels of Lewiston; three grandchildren and four great-grand-children. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 34 High St., Newport. Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the Peoples United Methodist Church, Main Street, Newport, with the Rev. George Darling officiating. Burial will be in the family lot at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, following the service. Friends who wish may make memorial donations to the Peoples United Methodist Church Maine Street Newport. To sign an online guest book please and leave written tributes please visit www.philipbrownfuneralhome.com
LUELLA A. FARNHAM
