FRANCES F. RICKER

MONTICELLO – Frances F. Ricker passed away June 11, 2010, at a Mars Hill health care facility, and is now in the arms of her Lord and Savior, which she had looked forward to for many years. She was born Sept. 7, 1927, the eldest child of Lloyd and Bernice Howe Folsom of Monticello. She attended Monticello schools and graduated from Ricker Classical Academy with some further education at Farmington Normal School. She taught at Britton Road Country School until her marriage to Erold Edwin Ricker, Aug. 26, 1949. They started their married life living in West Chester, Pa., where their eldest daughter was born, then returned home to Maine six months later where she lived the rest of her life. Mom was a devoted mother who enjoyed family picnics, warm summer days spent socializing with family, friends and neighbors, and many summer days spent at Russell Rock with her children and friends. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, attending musical jamborees, traveling and potluck suppers and snowmobiling in her middle years with many devoted friends. She loved all the summers when the children were young, camping at Mattagamon. She attended numerous churches in the area and enjoyed her weekly meetings at Monticello Grange, when it was in existence. She had extensive flowerbeds and had a green thumb, especially with her Christmas cactuses that bloomed profusely during the holidays. Her Christmas villages were known by many as one of her greatest joys and she enjoyed the holidays to the fullest. Mom will always be remembered for her love and devotion to her immediate family and her caring ways with neighbors and friends. She spent the last years of her life in nursing homes afflicted with dementia, but she remained a central family figure, much loved and cared for. She is survived by four daughters, Pamela and her husband, Roger Murphy, of Monticello, who were her primary caretakers during her last years, Cynthia Weeks of Gloucester, Va., Robin Underwood of Presque Isle and Debra Tompkins and her husband, Philip Tompkins, of Fort Fairfield. She is also survived by two sons, Bruce and his wife, Christine Ricker, of Presque Isle and Kevin and his wife, Viola Ricker, of Fort Fairfield; many grandchildren who she adored, Ivan Murphy, Andrew Murphy, Rebecca Condiff, Darci Hinson, Staci Simmons, Christopher Weeks, Robert Underwood, Amanda Underwood, Jake Ricker, Talianna Ricker, Kristi Ricker, Matthew Tompkins and Joshua Ricker; and her great-grandchildren, Brandon and Emily Murphy, Jason Condiff Jr., Amber Weeks, Cheyenne Hinson, Victoria and Kyle Simmons, Morgan and Erin Weeks, Gabrielle Ricker and Sophia Livingston. She is also survived by a loving and devoted sister and brother-in-law, Gail Cleaves and her husband, Duane, of Brooksville, Fla. She was predeceased by her parents, Lloyd and Bernice Folsom; two brothers, Robert and Albert; one sister, Lois; and the father of her children, Erold Ricker. The family thanks Dr. Nicholas for his many years of special care for mom and the nursing staff at Mars Hill Nursing Home, where she resided for the last three years. Private graveside services for immediate family will be held June 15 at Jewell Cemetery, Monticello, where she will be buried in the family plot with her parents. In lieu of flowers, Mom’s wish would be to plant a perennial or shrub in your garden in memory of her. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 8 Main St., Mars Hill. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.