WINDHAM – Clara Ballard Brown Mendell, 100, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2022, surrounded by her large loving family. The matriarch of the Brown family maintained a high degree of stability over the home and family for over 76 years with nine children to manage and control. Clara’s home was full of love, compassion, and discipline. Constructive criticism was swift and poignant as her point was made with a fair amount of diplomacy.Clara was born on Sept. 22, 1921, on the family farm on outer Winthrop Street in Hallowell. She was the daughter of George Irving and Alice (Wing) Ballard. Our mother grew up in a rigorous agrarian environment. She was brought up in a household that was based on producing crops and raising animals. Just as soon as her feet hit the floor in the morning, there were responsibilities to be accomplished. The household was always busy with a variety of chores maintained by both her mother and father. Clara loved them immensely and appreciated the strong work ethic learned from both of them. She passed this on to her children. Clara was a graduate of Hallowell High School in 1940. She participated in a variety of activities which included public speaking, cheerleading, and the Hokey Pokey Fair. After she graduated, she immediately went to work at the Hazzard Shoe office in Augusta. Throughout her long life she held a variety of jobs throughout the Augusta and Portland areas and eventually retired from Mercy Hospital in Portland when she was in her seventies.Mother was extremely proud of her children and especially her grandchildren. When family gatherings occurred, which was usually twice a year, the family gravitated around Clara who was thrilled to see each and every one. The family was known for their love and respect for one another. Their successes were noted but haughtiness did not occur. The love, compassion, kindness, and strength shown by Clara is evident in each and every one of her children and grandchildren.Clara was a descendant of Martha Moore Ballard who produced a diary that recorded her arduous work with thousands of entries for over three decades which provided historians with invaluable insight into frontier women’s lives. She traveled around the wilderness in a canoe ad delivered babies and healed the sick. Clara’s father was a direct descendant.Clara was predeceased by a beloved son, Mark Edward Brown in 2012, and daughter, Diane Muriel Reynolds in 2017. Clara missed them immensely. She was also predeceased by her parents, George and Alice Ballard; three brothers and their wives, Robert W. and Helen Ballard, Milton W. and Charlena Ballard, Richard I. and Charlotte Ballard; her husband, Frederick P. Brown Sr. whom she married during WWII on January 6, 1942, in Dorchester, MA at the home of Esty and Mildred Polit. Fred Sr. passed away in 1968 at the VA Hospital at Togus. Her second husband, Carleton Mendell, a well-documented marathon runner passed way December 25, 2012.Clara leaves behind Mark’s beloved wife, Marsha Brown and Diane’s husband, Craig Reynolds. Surviving children are sons Fred P. Brown and wife Sylvia of Augusta, Timothy Brown of Windham, Dennis Brown and wife Karen of Portland, Debbie and John Surran,  Jeffrey Brown and wife Margaret of Portland; daughters Suzanne Dube and husband Robert of Windham, Debra Surran and husband John of Saco, Kimberly Denis and husband Nate of Kennebunk; plus many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great children.The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Tim Brown and Sue Dube for their love and extensive compassionate 24-hour care of Clara.The funeral will be held on March 25, at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland. Visiting hours will be 9-11 a.m. with the service to follow at 11 a.m.

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