Frances Pearl Johnson Mairs died peacefully on November 11th in Portland, Maine. Born in Holiday, KS on July 11, 1919, she grew up in Hammond, Indiana and graduated from the University of Michigan. She married G. Donald Mairs of Scotia, New York, and moved to Morristown, and later, Teaneck, New Jersey, where they raised four children. Frances had a special appetite and gift for learning and an intense passion for children with special needs. While teaching full time, she earned two Masters Degrees in Special Education, attending school in the evening and on weekends. She led Bible Studies, taught Sunday school, and developed church school curriculum at the Presbyterian Church of Teaneck, New Jersey. Upon retirement in 1980, Frances moved to Waltham, Massachusetts, to be near her two daughters. Four years into retirement, she went back to school, this time earning a Master of Divinity Degree from Andover Newton Theological Seminary. She was ordained at Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA, and joined the staff as the leader of the Ministry to nursing home residents. She served in that role for ten years In March of 2014, she moved to Gorham Maine. She was loved and respected by so many – students, family and friends. Frances is survived by her two sons and their wives – H. Donald and Linda Mairs of Portland, ME, and David and Beth Mairs of Denton, TX; one daughter and her husband – Patricia and Robert DiRe of Ocala, FL, and one son-in-law – Richard Williams of Waltham, MA. Her daughter, Elizabeth Williams, preceding her. Frances had seven grandchildren: Scott Mairs, Kristen Woolley, Philip Mairs, Robert DiRe, Gregory Mairs, Ellie Mairs Murphy, and Sarie Mairs Slee; and six great-grandchildren: Benjamin and Joy Woolley, Aisling Mairs, Naomi and Aiden Murphy, and Stephen Slee. Calling hours will be held at the Douglass Funeral Home in Lexington, MA on Monday, November 24, 2014 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. A memorial service will follow at Grace Chapel at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Hope House, Hope Gateway Methodist Church, 185 High Street, Portland, ME 04102, to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, or other charities of your choice.
Interment Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.