FAIRFIELD – Frances Irvine Mealey, 91, passed away peacefully Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, with family by her side at a Waterville health care facility. She was born Nov. 1, 1919, in Mars Hill, daughter of the late Allen W. and Mae E. (Clark) Irvine.
She was educated in Mars Hill, graduating as valedictorian of Aroostook Central Institute, Class of 1938. She also graduated from Aroostook State Normal School, now the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Maine, Orono. Mrs. Mealey taught music and language arts in Limestone, Wayland, Mass., Bangor, Dexter, and finished her teaching career at SAD 49, Fairfield, retiring in 1978. After her retirement she was presented the Bulldog Award by the Lawrence High School Alumni Association in recognition of her outstanding dedication and commitment to the school community and its students. Frances was an accomplished musician and she served many years as the organist and choir director at Dexter First Baptist Church until moving with her family to Fairfield in 1962. She then became a member of Fairfield United Methodist Church, continuing to use her talents by playing piano and organ and singing in the choir. She belonged to the Merrymeeting and Fireside chapters, Order of the Eastern Star, and served two terms as Maine’s grand organist and also as grand representative from Maine to Arizona. She was a member of the advisory board of Waterville Assembly, Order of Rainbow for Girls, and was the organist for many Rainbow and Masonic functions. Mrs. Mealey was in great demand as an accompanist for weddings, funerals and school musical groups, as well as the Treble Clef Choral Society of Waterville. She also played in many dance bands around the state. On July 2, 1946, she married Robert W. Mealey and they shared 47 years together until his death in 1993. As well as her love of music, Frances instilled in her children a deep appreciation for the beauty of God’s world, all of nature and the great outdoors.
She will be greatly missed by her children, Robert I. Mealey and his wife, Helena, of Ellsworth, Barbara E. (Mealey) Daigle of Winslow, and Michael D. Mealey and his wife, Patti, of Fairfield; her grandchildren, Makesha “Katie” Bosse, Clare Googins and husband, Mark, Jeffrey Daigle and fiancee, Krystle, Jamie Mitchell and husband, Alan, and Jennifer Pelletier and husband, Corey; her great-grandchildren, Leah Daigle, Aubrey Mitchell and Jack Pelletier; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; Anne Giroux and her family of Winslow; and many, many friends too numerous to name. She was predeceased by a sister and five brothers. The family thanks the staff at Oak Grove Center and HealthReach Hospice for the care and kindness that was shown to Frances.
Family and friends may visit 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. A celebration of her life will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, at Fairfield United Methodist Church, Route 201, with the Rev. Timothy Wilcox officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Robert and Frances Mealey Scholarship Fund, care of Lawrence High School, 9 School St., Fairfield, ME 04937 or may be left at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. Condolences may be expressed at
www.lawrybrothers.com.
Music is a soaring bird –
ecstatic in its flight;
Music is the crooning heard
in the tall pines at night;
Music is the laughing sea
embracing moon – white shoals;
Music is God’s cool rain on parched and thirsty souls.
Only one thing matters –
that wherever we go and whatever we do –
We hear the music of life.