Long-time resident of Skaneateles, Frances Shapley Milford, 98, died peacefully on June 27, 2019, at the Finger Lakes Center for Living in Auburn, N.Y., surrounded by family members. She was born on March 24, 1921 in Auburn, N.Y., and moved to Sennett, where she attended Skaneateles Central School, graduating a year early as class salutatorian. She graduated from Albany State Teachers College and married Skaneateles native Robert S. Milford in 1943. Fran became a middle-school English teacher at Skaneateles while her husband served in the Navy during World War II. While raising five active children, she served as the religious education director at the Methodist Church in Skaneateles and became a board member for both the Skaneateles Library and Barrow Art Gallery. She held religious education group meetings at her home and was an active member of the Skaneateles Leisure Club for many years. She loved gardening, philosophy and her family. She especially enjoyed having her grandchildren visit or drop by with their friends for lunch during the school year.
She is predeceased by her husband, Robert Stilwell Milford, in 1978 and her son, Robert Shapley Milford, in 2013. Surviving are her daughters, Ann Ade (David) of North Carolina, Jane Cooney (Bud) and Meg Schneider (Robin) of Skaneateles, and her son, John Milford of Pennsylvania as well as 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be private. Contributions may be made to the Skaneateles Library Association or the Barrow Art Gallery.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
