MECHANIC FALLS – Francis R. Conant, 91, of 71 Jordan Road, passed away April 30, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Turner, Jan. 13, 1917, the son of Frank G. and Bertha Hodsdon Conant. He attended schools in Turner, graduating from Leavitt Institute in 1936. He was a World war II veteran serving from January 1941 to December 1945, receiving an honorable discharge as a corporal from the U.S. Army Coast Artillery.

On Sept. 30, 1953, he married Hazel Coleman and has resided in Mechanic Falls since that time. He worked at Snow’s in Auburn, J.W. Penney and Sons Co. in Mechanic Falls, and retired from Robinson Manufacturing in Oxford in 1984. He was a former member of the Mechanic Falls United Methodist Church and Blake Lodge of Odd Fellows in Turner. His pastime enjoyments included horseshoes, bowling, birdwatching, gardening, singing and quality family time at the summer camp on Bailey Island.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years; a son, Neal R. and his wife, Patricia A. Conant; two granddaughters, Roxa A. Conant and Crystal Conant; a great-grandson, Elijah Clifford; a sister, Edna Alden of Lewiston; and several half brothers and sisters.

He was predeceased by a sister, Roxa D. Conant in 1975.