Frances Barr Noland

Frances Barr Noland died from natural causes on November 22, 2017, at Legacy Memory Care in Falmouth, Maine. Frances (Fran) was born June 25, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of the late Mason Barr and Mary Walton Barr. Fran grew up in Falls Church, Virginia and attended Antioch College in Ohio where she studied sociology. Fran married Dewey Harrison Noland Jr. in 1954 and they settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In Ann Arbor, Fran volunteered with the Girl Scouts, many school events, the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital Gift Shop and the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop. She was an active member of the First Congregational Church and the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club.  Fran was an accomplished self-taught seamstress and chef and well known for her warm hospitality—she hosted many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, dinner parties, and University of Michigan Football tailgate gatherings. Fran was the most amazing mother of four daughters; when they were young she made snow angels, snow forts, gingerbread houses and cookies with them. As they grew older she taught them how to knit, sew, earn Girl Scout badges, write thank you notes and practice good manners. She taught them to be respectful of their elders. She encouraged them to be the best they could be no matter what and empowered them to be strong women. Best of all, she insisted and proved that she enjoyed their teenage years the most! Fran loved animals; bird watching; gardening; yoga; keeping up-to-date on current events, social issues and politics (and occasional friendly debates on these topics); and, completing the New York Times crossword puzzle 7 days a week. On Dewey’s retirement, they moved to Maine to live at the Barr family farmhouse in Limerick in the summer and at their condo in Portland in the winter. While in Maine, Fran and Dewey avidly pursued boating trips in their Pulsifer Hampton, explored art galleries and museums, and continued to share their warm hospitality. Fran was a most welcoming hostess to visitors to her family farmhouse. She readily issued invitations to visit and made everyone who did feel at home. She also proved to be a wonderfully insightful and sensitive grandmother to grandsons and granddaughters alike.

Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Harrison Noland, Jr. in December 2015. Survivors are her sister, Mary Barr (John) Wagner of Parsonsfield, Maine, and brother Mason Barr, Jr. of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and daughters, Laura Noland (Robert) Bushey, of Ann Arbor, Lela Noland (Andrew) Baughman, of Atlanta, Georgia, (currently in Windhoek, Namibia); Frances Noland (Peter) Ryan of Gorham, Maine; and Mary Lillian Noland (Hans) Jensen of Fishers, Indiana. Her survivors also include seven grandchildren: Matthew and Susan Baughman, Brendan and Ian Ryan, Clare and Peter Jensen, and Margaret Bushey; and ten beloved nieces and nephews. The family thanks the staff at Legacy Memory Care and Compassus Hospice for the care that Fran received, enabling her to benefit from the most loving and peaceful care possible during her last couple of years. The staff at Legacy described Fran as warm, loving, classy, strong, and occasionally feisty—all traits that family and friends recognize as her core personality.

A memorial service celebrating Fran’s life will be held Summer 2018, on a date yet to be determined.

Arrangements by A.T. Hutchins Funeral and Cremation Services, Portland, ME.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association

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