BRADFORD – Frances “Mike” (Harris) Speed, 81, went to join her beloved husband, Daniel W. Speed Sr., July 10, 2010, after a brief illness. She was born July 11, 1928, in Howland, the daughter of Raymond and Mabel (Bowley) Harris. She attended Bucksport and Searsport schools and graduated from Higgins Classical Institute. Mrs. Speed met and married, after a six-week courtship, her handsome Dan, her husband of 59 years. In addition raising a family of five, she had many jobs throughout her life. She was a bookkeeper and school secretary. Mike picked more than a hundred barrels of potatoes a day. She served as town clerk and later became the town manager of Bradford, until her retirement. She served on many committees and had a huge role on the Bradford Community Building. It was her wish that the youth in Bradford had somewhere to go. Mike had been a member of Bradford Baptist Church since 1952 and served as Sunday school teacher and superintendent for many years. Her greatest joy was her family. Mike loved to watch her boys and grandchildren, play softball or any other sports. She loved to read and crochet. She enjoyed playing the guitar and singing for Dan and her family. Mike enjoyed visiting with siblings and reminiscing, and she was an avid Red Sox fan. She was predeceased by her husband, Dan; her parents; three sisters, Betty Small, Winifred Orcutt and Shirley Bray; and two brothers, Harland Harris and Clayton Harris. Surviving are four sons, Daniel and his wife, Diane, of Dover-Foxcroft, John and his wife, Linda, Fred and his wife, Juliette, and Timothy and his wife, Louise; one daughter, Rebekah Randall and her husband, Jeff, all of Bradford; 12 grandchildren, John and his wife, Sandi, Michael, Andrea, Peter and his wife, Joy, Jesse and his wife, Jamie, David, Joseph, Matthew, Mary, Joe, Sarah and Daniel; two stepgrandsons, Nicholas and Alan; six great-grandchildren, Nicholes, Jenna, Benjamin, Milo, Natalie and Addyson; three sisters, Virginia Rich, Dena and her husband, Allen Ventucci, and Donna Pluard; one brother, Richard Harris and his wife, Shirley; four sisters-in-law, Luella Snow, Althea Harris, Annie Speed and Nancy Harris; and two brothers-in-law, Bill Michalski and Ralph Cookson. All of her many nieces were very special to their Aunt Mike, and of course her many nephews, cousins and dear friends. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, at Bradford Baptist Church with the Rev. Donald Booker, pastor, officiating. After a brief private burial for the family at Hillside Cemetery, Bradford, the family will meet with friends back at the church for refreshments and sharing memories. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Bradford Baptist Church, 461 Main Road, Bradford, ME 04410 or Bradford Recreation Center, 3345 East Road, Bradford, ME 04410. A service of Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
FRANCES ‘MIKE’ (HARRIS) SPEED
