Avis de décès de Francis-L. Cameron

RANDOLPH -- Francis L. "Frank" Cameron, 71, of Randolph died at the VA Maine Health Care Center at Togus on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Frank was born on Aug. 16, 1940. He was a Portland native, the fifth of seven children born to Mildred Anne O'Brion and Louis D. Cameron. Frank married Claire Smith of Westbrook in December 1963 and enjoyed her companionship for some 48 years. He also leaves the couples' four children and their families, including Patrick and Laura Cameron and Laura's two children, Christian and Amber Gilman, of Winthrop, Christopher Cameron and his companion, Karen Priputin, and his three boys, Scott, Adam and Aaron, all of Kansas City, Kan., Beth Anne Cameron and her daughter, Alanna, of Waltham, Mass., and Michelle Cameron Madore, her husband, Jeff, and their daughter, Maya, all of Stafford, Va.He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, William Peter in 1987 and John Paul in 1996; as well as one sister, Louise Pettis, who passed in 1991. Surviving immediate family members include sister Catherine Burgess and her husband, Oren George Burgess Jr, of Falmouth, brother Stephen Cameron and his wife, Jean, of Florida, sister Mary Rose Stein and her husband, Roger, of Windham, and sister-in-law Anna Cameron, widow of John Paul Cameron; and maternal aunt Edna O'Brion Lyden of Portland and Peaks Island. There are also a large number of nephews and nieces as well as many grand-nephews and grand-nieces. Frank was a 1958 graduate of Cheverus High School. He was 1962 graduate of the University of Maine. He was a Vietnam-era Army veteran, serving from 1963 to 1965. He later earned master's degrees in both education and clinical social work from the University of Southern Maine and the University of Arkansas, respectively.Frank's professional career was spent primarily as a clinical social worker or clinical social work supervisor with the Togus VA Medical Center. He retired in June 2004.He was an active member of St. Joseph Church in Gardiner and a volunteer at the Gardiner Food Bank. He was an active member of Canabas Council 1299 Gardiner. During and after his VA career, Frank volunteered for the Togus Employees Association as part of the team that opened and supervised early morning use of the gym and pool by staff.Frank always enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Family holiday meals or outings were his favorite way to celebrate special occasions. Following retirement, he began playing more golf. His favorite foursome included brother Steve, in-laws Smokey and Roger, and himself. He really valued his old friends and maintained close ties with a group of fellow Cheverus graduates, helping to organize annual cook-outs and restaurant group outings for the gang. He also valued his newer friends from St. Joseph's in Gardiner. He always looked forward to Saturday night cards and Sunday morning breakfasts with this group.Visiting hours will be held 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gardiner. Burial with military honors will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Boys Club, P.O. Box 8730, Portland, ME 047112.