WESTBROOK, ME/ENOSBURG FALLS, VT- Frederick A. Forty, Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2023 at the Barron Center Nursing Home in Portland, ME.
He was born in St. Albans on April 10, 1934 to the late Frederick Arthur Forty Sr. and Doreen Elnora (Pettengill) Forty.
Fred moved to Portland, ME when he was 4 years old but spent nearly every summer of his youth along with his younger sister, Fern, at the Forty Family farm near Enosburg Falls, VT. There he was surrounded by many aunts and uncles and his beloved Grammie (Elizabeth Watts) Forty. The family later moved to Redbank Village in South Portland where he attended area schools. He was 18 when he went into the U.S. Air Force for 4 years and was stationed in Amarillo, TX. Fred then went to work in Southern California to live near his beloved sister and her family and later returned home to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a machinist. On March 30, 2019 he married Patty Cormier, a life-long friend who he spent over 67 years with, the two were inseparable, and were even able to spend Fred's last year in the same room at the Barron Center Nursing Home. Fred and Patty enjoyed traveling and looked forward to celebrating Groundhog Day every year in remembrance of the day they met- which included a very special groundhog dance! Fred loved to make people smile and never stopped smiling himself, it was infectious.
Fred had a lifelong interest in everything to do with timepieces and their intricate workings, as well as antique guns and other collectibles. Due to his machinist background, he was incredibly skilled at rebuilding clocks, watches and guns. Fred was also a very talented artist and shared many of his drawings with friends and family over the years. Fred enjoyed traveling especially through the western states of Arizona, Idaho and California. Fred and his sister Fern were devoted, protective, and caring loving siblings for almost 86 years.
Special thanks to Ronald and Brenda Woodhouse from Westbrook, ME for moving Fred and Patty into their home, caring for them, giving them tons of love, and taking them on many vacations. Fred became a special part of their family.
He is survived by his wife and love of his life, Patty Cormier of Westbrook, ME; his sister, who will miss him dearly, Fern Forty Cookson McIntier of Mesa, AZ who will miss him terribly; nieces, Cindy Shorts (Thomas Shorts), Celeste Bernstein (Gregory Bernstein), and Julie Hofeldt (Craig Hofeldt); nephew, Mark Cookson (Heidi Cookson); Ronald and Brenda Woodhouse of Westbrook, ME who he thought of as family and supported him through his older years; and many friends who surrounded him at the Barron Center.
Family and friends are invited to Fred's Life Celebration events to include a memorial service on January 17, 2023 at 2:30PM at the Barron Center Nursing Home, 1125 Brighton Ave., Portland, ME. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 1:00PM in the Berkshire Center Cemetery in Enosburg Falls, Vermont.
Fred's family would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff of the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, ME, and the Barron Nursing Home in Portland, ME for the exceptional care he received and treating Fred like family.
For those who wish, contributions in Fred's memory may be made to the Barron Center, 1125 Brighton Ave, Portland Maine
Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Starts at 2:30 pm (Eastern time)
Barron Center Nursing Home
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Berkshire Center Cemetery
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