1930 – 2015

PORTLAND — Fred Hardy of New Sharon passed away at Maine Medical Center in Portland on Saturday, July 4, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Waterville on Feb. 13, 1930, to Joseph W. Hardy Jr. and Clara “Mabel” (Hobbs) Noonan. He was educated in Farmington and Wilton schools, graduating from Wilton Academy, Class of 1948. He was raised on his grandfather’s farm on Perham Hill in Farmington and later moved to a small farm purchased by his father in East Wilton. Fred was also employed at the Smith farm in East Wilton all through high school.

He was married to Phyllis Chase of Dixfield from July 1949 until she passed away in April 2001. In 1960, they purchased a farm in New Sharon on the Perham Hill Road (now Weeks Mills Road), where they raised four children, Tamara, Earl, Lloyd and Joyce. In 1960, Fred was employed at Farmington Shoe Co. as a production worker and five years later, was promoted to foreman. He was employed there for 17 years, while he and his family established a herd of registered Holsteins.

In 1977, he left Farmington Shoe to manage his dairy farm full time, one of his lifetime goals. Fred continued in the dairy industry until 1992, when he sold the cows to his eldest son, Earl. In August 2007, he married Ruby Tracy.

Fred had served, and was still active, on many boards and committees. He was past president and the current treasurer for the Maine Dairy Industry Association; a former executive board member of the Franklin County Extension Association; a past president and secretary of Franklin County Chapter of National Farmers of America; a past secretary of Maine Milk Producers Inc.; an executive member of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts and a member of the Board of Directors of Franklin County Farm Bureau.

In 1994, he was appointed by Gov. John McKernan to represent Maine on the Northeast Dairy Compact. In 1998, he was reappointed by Gov. Angus King and served until the compact expired in 2001. In January 2004, he was awarded the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award from the Maine Department of Agriculture Commissioner Robert Spear. At the time of his death, he was also a board member of NorthStar Ambulance and an executive board member of Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

His civil service included four years on the New Sharon Planning Board (chair 1990); four years as selectman/assessor of New Sharon and four years representing New Sharon on the Franklin County Budget Committee. From 1992 until the time of his passing, Fred served as District 2 Franklin County commissioner. He was also a member of the Farmington Rotary Club at the time of his passing.

Fred enjoyed playing cards with friends, reading the newspaper from cover to cover and watching Red Sox and Patriots games.

Fred was predeceased by his parents; a younger sister, Geneva; and his first wife, Phyllis. He was also predeceased by a brother, Gordon Fletcher; and sisters, Marjorie (Jean) Essman and Ruth Hall.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ruby; children, Tammy Damren, Earl Hardy, Lloyd Hardy and his wife, April, and Joyce McCaslin and her husband, Michael; brothers, Clarence Hardy, William Hardy and wife, Lona, Douglas Fletcher, the Rev. James Fletcher and wife, Paula; sister, Barbara Linnell; grandchildren, Conrad Shaw, Jeremy Damren and partner, Thomas Stinson, Scott Damren and wife, Kate, Jennifer Hawkins and husband, David, Jessica Roberts and husband, David, Melissa Karkos and husband, Jon, Kimberly DiDonna and husband, Nicholas, Frederick L. Hardy, Amber McCaslin and partner, Jordan McAdams, and Karen Badger and husband, Jamin; 12 great-grandchildren, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Fred’s extended family includes children, Diana Bell and husband, Michael, Doni Gaffar and husband, Arthur, Deborah Tracy and husband, Seth, Daryl Schramm and husband, George, Scott Tracy and Bia, and Judy Tracy; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

We all will miss his sense of humor and quick-witted retorts, as he was a master storyteller and truly loved to make people laugh.

Condolences may be sent for the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.