Gertrude Qualey Conant Obituary

  Portland Press Herald Monday, September 20, 1993 P. 5B

 Gertrude A Conant teacher, once helped run potato farm

 Gertrude A Conant, a retired schoolteacher, died Sunday at a local nursing home after a long illness. Mrs. Conant, who had lived on Whitney Avenue and 330 Forest Ave. was 84.  She was born in Benedicta, in Aroostook County, a daughter of Lewis H. and Flora E McDonald Qualey. Mrs. Conant attended Benedicta schools and was a graduate of the Normal School in Presque Isle.  The Normal School provided a two-year certificate that enables her to teach school while pursuing her four year degree.  Mrs. Conant began her teaching career in 1929 in Limestone and taught there for about five years. After her marriage to John S Conant, she left her teaching to raise a family.  The Conants had five daughters. "She was devoted to her family." Said a daughter, Luann Archer of Scarborough. "She left teaching to be with her family." The Conants were potato farmers in Fort Fairfield, and her duties included farm chores and looking after workers who labored on their farm.  "There were good years, but a lot of lean years, too." her daughter said.  "My parents loved Aroostook County, but there were many difficult years."  Mrs. Conant returned to teaching in 1957, teaching third grade in Fort Fairfield.  At age 65, she received a degree in elementary education at the University of Maine in Presque Isle. She retired in 1976. Mrs. Conant enjoyed reading and traveling. She spent many winters in Florida visiting daughters who had relocated there.  After her retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Conant moved to Portland.  Her daughter said a primary reason was to be closer to medical care. "She had cancer for many years, " her daughter said. "It was a very long battle, and during these years she had four different kinds. " But she never gave up. She said that where there was a will, there was a way. She rose to all the challenges of fighting the disease, and though she sometimes was discouraged, she never quit." Mrs. Conant was a member of the Maine Teachers Association.  She was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church, a member of its Woman's Council and was a Eucharistic Minister. She had been a member of the Daughter's of Isabella in Fort Fairfield . Mr. Conant died in 1981. Mrs. Conant is also survived by four other daughters , Carol M Conant of Orlando, FLa, Salley Dolley of Belize, Central America, Elaine Henris of Winter Park, Fla., and Mary Marquis of Pinnelas Park, Fla.; six sisters, Marion Savard, Sister Mary Luanus, R.S.M., Rita Qualey and Christine Heskett, all of Portland, Teresa Hansen of Bangor and Bernadette Hunt of Auburn, Calif.; a brother, Albert Qualey of Benedicta; 12 grandchildren, a great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. Prayers will be recited at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Conroy - Tully Funeral Home, 172 State Street followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church.  Burial will be in the family lot in St. Denis Cemetery, Fort Fairfield.