Ardell Janice Parkman Lynds

Ardell was the only child of Henry A Parkman and Phyllis P (Pease) Parkman, and was born January 8 1942 at the Scott Webb Memorial Hospital in Hartland, ME. She attended elementary school in St. Albans, Skowhegan, and Norridgewock, ME, Aptos, CA, and graduated from Watsonville High School in 1960. She also attended secretarial school in San Jose, Monterey Peninsular College, and Hartnell College in Salinas, CA.

Upon returning to Maine after residing in California from 1962-2000, she really enjoyed reconnecting with childhood friends and family, from Skowhegan and Norridgewock.

After spending time with family, Ardell’s greatest joy was researching family roots, as she was an extremely successful and passionate genealogist. Some of her greatest accomplishments were tracing her family heritage and others back to their Mayflower voyage. She has also written and published three books, and transcribed the Vital Records of Saint Albans. She was a proud member of several genealogical organizations including Daughters of the American Revolution (which she was an officer), Mayflower Society, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Maine Genealogical Society, the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. She also owned and operated Your Cousin’s Genealogical Shoppe in San Martin, CA. Ardell was a lady of extreme character and virtue, whose family values and moral code would be next to impossible to surpass. As indicated by the organizations she belonged to, Ardell loved her country, and was a devout Patriot.

Ardell was a lover of Animals, having named and cared for numerous pets including dogs, cats, pygmy goats, roosters, chickens, horses, and a pig on Lynds’ Little Acres Ranchette in San Martin, CA. This would explain why one of her favorite TV shows and book was All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. She has also been a school volunteer, and treasurer of Boy Scout Troop #20.

She is survived by her husband Arvil Lynds of Readfield, Me, her children Ronnie Lynds of Gilroy, CA, Stephen Lynds of Yosemite National Park, CA, and Michael Lynds of Gardiner, ME.

There will be viewing hours from 2-4 & 6-8pm Friday December 10, 2010 with the funeral service at 11am Saturday December 11, 2010 at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. Immediately following there will be a luncheon reception at the Tewksbury Hall behind Federated Church on the Island in Skowhegan.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. 207-474-3357

Donations can be made in Ardell’s memory to the National Kidney Foundation, Serving New England, 85 Astor Ave., Suite 2, Norwood, MA 02062-5040, Arthritis Foundation, Northern New England Office, 6 Chenell Drive, Suite 260, Concord, NH 03301 or to The Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, Maine 04210