LEWISTON — Franklin Dale “Frank” Harrington, 80, of Bethel, died early Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.
Frank was born June 26, 1937, literally at his home place with Grace Morrill as midwife in the Irish neighborhood of Greenwood. A son of Bernard and Maude (Cummings) Harrington, Frank attended local schools, graduating from Gould Academy in spring of 1955.
On June 22, 1968, he married, Sheila “Suzy” Roberts in Bethel where they made their home for 49 years.
Frank worked for his Uncle John at The Bethel Feed and Grain Store on Summer Street; cutting and hauling wood for his brother Gabe, working alongside his father, Bernard; PH Chadbourne & Co. as a dozer operator working jobs across Maine, including the Rangeley State Park; farming with his father in-law, Stan; eventually taking over joint ownership with his wife Suzy and handling the day-to-day operations of Roberts Poultry Farm serving customers throughout New England. Farming continued in the form of haying working the many fields in the Bethel area. Over the last 50 years, Frank served as sexton of the private Irish Neighborhood Cemetery, his final resting place with him being the fourth of five generations peacefully resting there.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed spending time with friends and family hunting, fishing, Jeeping, riding ATVs and snow machines. He is known for placing 30,000 miles on his Honda Rincon four-wheeler and having others with over 12,000 miles, always on a Honda. These adventures included laughter, plenty of confidence, Pepsi, a Jeep, Honda, the challenges to reach that needed spot-creating memorable stories with a slight grin and offset hat. Frank shared his love of the outdoors by guiding friends on many hunts and teaching wood skills he learned through his years of traversing the mountains or orchards in the Irish neighborhood. Family and friends would seek out time with him to go on “Jeep safaris” to view wildlife and other surprises. He took this further by purchasing lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for all of grandchildren. He enjoyed his time in Greenwood swinging off gray birches, finding the right crab apple tree for jelly, maple sugaring, picking blueberries on Mt. Abram, spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins who visited during the summers, picking fiddleheads and fishing special spots. A delightful snack would include hot dogs with peanut butter or peanut butter cups with a small amount of Pepsi. Frank enjoyed time with his eight grandchildren, following their growth and involving them in many activities and time with his three brothers.
He is survived by his wife, Suzy of Bethel; children, Randy and his wife, Karen; Mike and his wife, Kim; Kelly and Danny, all of Bethel. Eight grandchildren, Ashley and Andrew Gould, Keith, Grady, Victoria, Emalee, Abby and Kory Harrington. Brothers, Rodney Harrington and companion Alberta Merrill of Greenwood and Raymond Harrington and his wife, Janice of Monroe, Ga.; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, a daughter, Kristy Jean Harrington, and brother, Gerald “Gabe” H. Harrington. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.
Franklin D. Harrington
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