PORTLAND — Frances R. Frost, 81, of Portland, died Saturday, April 21, after a short fight with cancer. She was surrounded by her friends and family during her last days.

Frances was born Dec. 30, 1936, in Bluefield, W.Va., to Andrew Frost and Frances Boughner Frost of Richmond, Va. After attending William and Mary College, Class of 1958, Frances married Charles H. Abbott of Rumford, predeceased (DIV 1989), and they raised three children in Auburn.

During this time Frances became a dedicated lifelong supporter of the Maine Democratic Party, was elected to the City Council in Auburn, appointed to the Maine Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, and served on the Portland School Board. Frances was an avid reader of American history and always enjoyed a good debate among friends.

Some of her fondest memories were of summers on Swan’s Island with family, and later in life on Peaks Island. While living on Peaks Island, Frances discovered her talent for cleaning horse stalls and was one of the subjects in the short film by Olga Kreimer, “Muck a Little, Talk a Little.”

She is survived by her three children, Woods (Susan) Abbott of Wilmington, Mass., Edward (Christine) Abbott of Leesburg, Va., and Ann Abbott (Luke) Wendler of San Francisco, Calif. She will be missed by her eight grandchildren.

Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service website, www.mainefuneral.com.

Frances R. Frost