HOULTON – Clara E. Ross Bickford, 85, died Jan. 19, 2012, at a local hospital. She was born July 22, 1926, in Monticello, daughter of Miles and Mary (Porter) Ross.
Clara was a member of Houlton Wesleyan Church. In her earlier years she ran a daycare, and was loved by so many children and to her it was if they were her own. She was a mother to all who knew her, and she cooked and crocheted for them all. Her greatest love in life was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Clara is survived by two daughters, Wendy Vermette of Sabattus, and Cheryl Grant and her friend, Mike Cummings, of Houlton; four sons, Mark Bickford and his wife, Joyce, of Windham, Brian Bickford and his wife, Sharon, of Caribou, Kirk Bickford and his friend, Kristie Taylor, and Kent Bickford and his wife, Angela, all of Houlton; 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Eugene Ross of Houlton and Gary Ross of Virginia; three sisters, Marcella “Dot” Beals of Houlton, Doreen Bailey of Littleton and Gloria Elkins of Missouri; several nieces and nephews; and her very special Graymore family. She was predeceased by her husband, Wendell R. Bickford; her parents; two brothers, Garfield Ross and Paul Ross; and two sisters, Audrey Gillette and Ruth Kuehnel.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Dunn Funeral Home. Interment will be at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Clara’s memory to Graymore Activity Fund or Houlton Humane Society, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.