Ann Bancroft French

Ann Bancroft French, 73, passed away at her home in Auburn Hills, Mich., on February 12, 2024. She was born on October 25, 1950, in Hanover, N.H., the daughter of Dr. Rowland B. and Winifred French.

In 1953, the family moved to Eastport, where she grew up, graduating from Shead Memorial High School with the Class of 1969. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., and graduated from Ricker College, before pursuing a master's degree in zoology at George Washington University. In June 1973 she married Ralph Townsend of Brewer at the Unitarian Church in Eastport. Over the years they lived in Washington, D.C., Madison, Wisc., Bradford and Orono, with their two children, Sandra and Kevin, along with year-long stays in Iceland, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

In her younger years, she was active in the Girl Scouts, played the guitar and loved riding her pony Tumbleweed on the back roads and fields of Perry with her horse-riding friends. She continued to have horses over the years and enjoyed hiking and canoeing with her family. In her later years and after being divorced she focused her energies on Reiki and yoga as meditation. She was a kind and caring person with strong ethical beliefs, and her sudden laugh and smile were moments of joyful surprise.

She was predeceased by her parents and her son, Mark, who died as a baby. She is survived by her children, Sandra, husband Colin Priebe and daughter Alex of Moscow, Idaho, and Kevin of Sunnyvale, Calif.; her brothers, Robert and wife Robin Siegel of Troy, Mich., John of Perry, Hugh and wife Kristin McKinley and daughter Winnie of Eastport and Edward and wife Lora Whelan of Eastport.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6th, 2024, at Bayside Cemetery in Eastport. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home.