BRADENTON, Fla. — G. Frank Bly, 86, formerly of Freeport and Litchfield, died June 6 in Bradenton, Fla.

He was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Lewiston, son of George H. Bly and Florence Avery Bly and was educated in Lewiston and Litchfield schools.

For 25 years he was married to Ezalee Audrey Gates and lived in Litchfield, where they raised their family of five children. After her death in 1968 he later married Florris Johnston Ricker and they lived together in Freeport with their combined families.
 
While living in Freeport, he owned and operated Arthur’s Market, which later became the location of the Freeport Police Department.

After retiring in 1988, he and Florris enjoyed traveling and spent their winters in Bradenton, Fla., eventually becoming year-round residents in 1998.

He was a member of the Grange, American Legion, Freeport Lodge AF & AM and Kora Temple.

He was predeceased by a brother, Newell, and two sisters, Christine Cribbin and Dorothy Dodge.

Surviving are his wife Florris of Bradenton; two sons, George E. Bly of Osprey, Fla., James Bly of Freeport, and three daughters, Susan Grover of Belgrade Lakes, Anne O’Mara of Ipswich, Mass., Kathryn Roy of Freeport; two sisters, Elsie Durgin of Poland, Eleanor Leonard of Kittery; a stepson, Rick Ricker of Litchfield, and  stepdaughters, Joycelyn Anderson of Baltimore, Nancy Siegel of Belmont, N.H., Sharon Heavener of Port Charlotte, Fla.; 26 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.  

Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Children Hospital or Tidewell Hospice, 3355 26th St., Bradenton, FL.

There will be a graveside service on July 11 at 11 a.m. at the Litchfield Plains Cemetery, followed by a Masonic Funeral at 2 p.m. on July 11 at the Masonic Lodge on Mallett Dr., Freeport.

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