Florris L. Bly, 91, formerly of Litchfield and Freeport, Maine, Bradenton, Florida, Belmont, New Hampshire, and Port Charlotte, FL, went to her eternal rest with the Lord on April 20, 2026, at the home of her daughter, Sharon.
She was born January 22, 1935, in Long Branch, NJ, the daughter of H. Robinson Johnston and Florris Lillian (Kurtz) Johnston.
Her first marriage was to Erlon G. Ricker of Litchfield, with whom she had four children. In 1968, she was married to George Frank Bly, and they made their home in Freeport, Maine.
Florris was a legal secretary with Powers, Bradford & Palmer in Freeport. She was also co-owner with her husband of Arthur's Market and later was employed by the law firm of Verrill & Dana in Portland, Maine from early 1979 until retirement. In 1987, she and her husband became residents of Bradenton, Florida, first as "snowbirds", then full-time beginning in 1998. After her retirement, she continued working part-time, summers in Freeport and winters in Bradenton and Sarasota.
For many years she was a member of the Federated Church in Litchfield, where she sang in the choir, and for several years sang in the Living Christmas Tree at First Church of the Nazarene in Bradenton. In 2006 she became a member of Covenant Evangelical Church of Trailer Estates, Bradenton, and joined the choir there. She was a member and Past Degree Master of Litchfield Grange; a 60+ year member Order of Eastern Star; Past Matron of Mystic Chapter, Litchfield and Casco Chapter, Freeport, OES; and was also a Past District Deputy Grand Matron, District #4 in Maine. She was a member of Samuel Grant Chapter, DAR in Gardiner, Maine, then a member of Osceola Chapter DAR in Bradenton.
Florris and her late husband, Frank, were avid campers. They made many good friends camping at Hermit Island Campground in Small Point, Maine, and spent 17 summers at Flying Point Campground in Freeport. After Frank’s retirement in 1985, they took an extended camping trip through Canada, Alaska, and the "lower 48". To celebrate their 25th anniversary, they took an Amtrak trip around the entire country in 1993.
Florris is survived by her son, Rick (De) Ricker, of Litchfield, Maine; 3 daughters, Joycelyn (Eric) Anderson, Red House, VA; Nancy (Richard) Siegel, Belmont, NH; and Sharon Heavener, Port Charlotte, FL; a brother, Charles H. Johnston, Gardiner, Maine; a sister, Mary (Desmond) Parker, Wells, Maine; 12 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by a stepdaughter-in-law, Gretchen Bly, Nokomis, FL.; a stepson, James (Debra) Bly, Freeport, Maine; 3 stepdaughters, Susan (Charles) Grover, Fort Wayne, IN.; Anne (Jack) O'Mara, Conway, NH, and Kathryn (Randall) Roy, Arrowsic, Maine.
She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband of 41 years, G. Frank Bly, a stepson, Charles “Chuck” Bly, a son-in-law, Paul Heavener, a grandson, Jason Anderson, and nephew David Emerson.
A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Murdock Baptist Church, 18375 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL. 33948
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West, Bradenton, Florida, is in charge of arrangements.
